Elkin Rev. Irvin Thomas "Tommy" Johnson, age 80, of Blue Ridge Avenue, passed away Sunday, August 15, 2004 at the home of his daughter in Boone. Rev. Johnson was born April 12, 1924 in Forsyth County to John Zed Johnson & Ida Lou Irvin J. Gentry. Rev. Johnson was a member of Elkin Valley Baptist Church. Tommy attended Mitchell College and Gardner Webb University. He was the associate missionary for Elkin Baptist Association. During his Pastorate he served at the following churches, Mount Pleasant in State Road, Griffith Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, Antioch Baptist Church in Mount Airy, Low Gap, Oak Grove, Rockford, Bethel and Piney Grove in Lenoir. He was also a member of Elkin Masonic Lodge 454. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Chad Thomas Hartley and two brothers. Survivors include: his wife of 63 years, Berttie Marie Newman Johnson of Britthaven of Wilkesboro; a daughter Dr. Peggy Johnson Hartley and husband Ernest B. of Boone; two brothers, J.B. Johnson of Elkin, Willis Johnson of Collinsville, Va.; one sister, Dorothy Simmons Swaim of Jonesville; an uncle Raymond Johnson. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 18, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. at Hodges Funeral Home Chapel by Rev. Homer Greene, Mr. Vernon Hood and Mr. Jack Gentry. Burial will follow at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin. The family requests no food and in lieu of flowers, the family would like memorials to be sent to Hospice of Watauga County, 136 Furman Road, Boone, NC 28607. Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin is serving the Johnson family.
