Beard Mortuary
Obituaries (2007)

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   1.    Sowards,  Herschel

   2.    Doggett,  Katherine

   3.    McConnell,  Freddie

   4.    Rose,  Althea

   5.    Farley,  Kathleen O.

   6.    Johnson,  Dorothy May

   7.    Stear,  James William

   8.    McSweeney,  Mildred M.

   9.    Meehling,  Norma Ruth

   10.  Cremeans,  Reda Mae

   11.  Johnson,  Milan H. (Dr.)

Doors to the Past

Obituary

Dr. Milan H. Johnson entered Heaven on Christmas Day 2007 after an extended illness while residing in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Dr. Johnson fulfilled his calling to Christ, providing over forty years of distinguished service within the pastoral ministry.  Affectionately known as “Dr. J”, he served as Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hurricane from 1967-1973, and concluded his ministry at the First Baptist Church of Dunbar, serving from 1987-1994.

While he also led American Baptist Congregations in Indiana, Ohio, and Arizona, Dr. Johnson always regarded his beloved West Virginia as home.  Summers during his retirement years were spent in Ashton, WV overlooking the Ohio River.   

Dr. Johnson was born in Huntington, West Virginia on December 4, 1931, to Harvey and Faye Johnson.  A 1951 graduate of Huntington East High School, he attended Marshall University and graduated from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee.  He earned a Master of Divinity Degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and furthered his education through doctoral study at San Francisco Presbyterian Seminary, San Anselmo California.  In addition, Alderson Broaddus College, Philippi, West Virginia awarded him the Honorary Doctor of Letters.  He later provided leadership to the college as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Known as a dynamic speaker and charismatic leader, Dr. Johnson served his denomination through various state level American Baptist leadership roles as well as in national denominational responsibilities.  Throughout his life, he was also active within the Masonic Rite and was a longtime member of Rotary International.  A son, Norman Todd Johnson, precedes Dr. Johnson in death.  He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marilyn Stewart Johnson, two sons Michael Johnson of Bedford, IN and Dr. Frederick Johnson of Green Bay, WI, a daughter Tasha Faye Vatistas of Phoenix, AZ., a brother Rev. Robert Johnson of Huntington, WV, and three sisters Nancy Martin of Myrtle Beach, SC, Leah DeJute of Maumee, Ohio and Mary Potter of Circleville, Ohio.  He leaves his legacy with ten grandchildren Michelle, Amanda, Philip, Todd, Christopher, Lauren, Garrett, Gabriella, Emily, and Nicholas John.  He is also survived by four great-grandchildren.  In lieu of flowers those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Norman Todd Johnson Scholarship Fund at Alderson Broaddus College, 500 College Hill Road, Philippi, WV, 26416. The family will receive friends on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 from 5-8 PM at Beard Mortuary, Huntington.  A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, Jan. 4, 2008 at 11:00 am at Beard Mortuary.  An internment service will follow at Woodmere Memorial Park, Huntington.

Templates in Time