Harry Johnson's Obituary
HARRY A. JOHNSON, JR., 90, passed away November 18, 2011. He was born in Batesville, MS on May 15, 1921, the son of Harry A. and Hattie Stephenson Johnson, Sr. He retired as a colonel in the United States Marine Corps after 40 years of regular and reserve service. He was an honor graduate of Central High School, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington DC and the Naval War College, Newport, RI, as well as the Buhlis Naval Academy Preparatory School, Silver Spring, MD. He was awarded 14 medals and ribbons with 5 battle stars. He made the landing on Betio, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands and made the first landings to retake the Philippines on the Island of Leyte. He also served on the Samoan, Ellice, Gilbert, Marshall, Admiralty, Guam and Hawaiian Islands. He was commanding officer of several Marine Corps reserve units in Memphis for 18 years, during which time the Marine Corps training center on Jackson Avenue was constructed and a number of awards were earned by the reserve battalion he commanded at that location. Harry was with Seabrook’s, President of Harry Johnson, Inc., President of Shelby-Skipwith, Inc. and Vice-President of Woodson & Bozeman, Inc. In 1991 he established Commercial & Military Computers, Inc. to sell computer equipment to the U.S. government worldwide and served as its president for 12years. He was Master Councilor of Order of Demolay and the youngest recipient (in 1940) of the Chevalier Degree, conferred for outstanding service. He has been a Master Mason for over 60 years. Harry was chairman of the Commission on Education at Madison Heights Methodist Church, Chair of the Building Committee which remodeled the Sunday School Buildings and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Stewards. He helped organize and was the first president and a teacher of the Jack Hayes Class for young adults. He was chairman of the Church School Committee for the Steering Committee which started Christ United Methodist Church. He was a charter member of Christ United Methodist Church, its first Church School Superintendent, on its first Building Committee, Nominating Committee and Official Board. With then Senior Minister Charles W. Grant he established Christ Methodist Day School. He and wife Penny established the Capital Property Maintenance Endowment Trust in 1980. During his tenure as Chair of the Board of Trustees, he helped to initiate the $9 million Building Program which included Wilson Chapel, Seabrook Hall and the Dunnam Building. He was Chairman of the Host Committee for four Annual Conferences of the Memphis Conference held at Christ United Methodist Church. He and Penny enjoyed traveling extensively in the United States, Europe and Asia. His life and experiences in the Marine Corps, career, and his and Penny’s travels are documented in his autobiography. He was a member of Chickasaw Country Club, the Summit Club, and the Crescent Club. Harry spent several years in writing a four volume, hard bound set of history books of Christ United Methodist Church. The books were published in 2003 by Providence Publishers and were available at Davis-Kidd Booksellers and Cokesbury Bookstore. They are also available at Memphis Library locations. He is also the author of “Lives of Miraculous Coincidences”, a 583 page hardback autobiography published by Vantage Press. He was predeceased by his parents and brother, Samuel Wright Johnson. He leaves his wife of 66 years, Penny Johnson; his son Harry A. Johnson III (Patty); their two daughters McKenzie Johnson Burleson (Justin) of Dallas TX and Kelly Johnson of Washington DC. He leaves his daughter Janet Johnson Turpin (Dr. Thomas) of Cabot AR and their children Mary Kate Trueblood (Jeremy) of Virginia Beach VA, Lauren and Jay, of Cabot AR.; and his great granddaughter Madyson Trueblood. He also leaves his sister, Jeanette Johnson Boone Davis of Hernando MS. The service will be Tuesday, November 22 at Christ United Methodist Church, with visitation at 9:00 a.m. in the parlor followed by a Memorial Service at 10:00 in the Sanctuary. A private family service will follow at Memorial Park Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Capital Property Maintenance Endowment Trust at Christ United Methodist Church, 4488 Poplar Avenue, Memphis TN 38117.
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