Jesse Ray Johnson

In Loving Memory of

Jesse Ray Johnson

Jesse Ray Johnson, 77 of Staffordsville, VA went to be with the Lord on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at his home. Jesse was born on August 19, 1939 in Hot Springs and was a son of the late Marvin Ewing Johnson and Lena Cauley Johnson. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Margaret Ann Johnson Cooper, one brother, William Marvin Johnson and one sister, Cuva Ann Wiseman. Jesse, attended Valley High School in Hot Springs, met his wife Dorothy while she was teaching in Bath Co. and then moved to Giles Co. to start a family. Jesse was a longtime Pearisburg Town Officer. He received a degree in Criminal Justice and Police Science from New River Community College and also became an instructor at the college. He coached in the local youth leagues. He was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Pearisburg, was a youth counselor for many years in the UMYF. He always enjoyed teaching and being around young children throughout his life. He especially enjoyed playing the role of Santa Clause and entertaining young children. He was an exceptional golfer who held the course record at Castle Rock for many years until they changed the design of the course. He loved his family and friends, never met a stranger and loved to tell jokes and make people laugh. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Dorothy Alice Whittaker Johnson of Staffordsville, one son, Jesse Christopher (Chris) and Teena Johnson of Staffordsville, three grandchildren, Michael Jason DeBusk, Robert Brandon Cooper, Christeena Lynnsey Johnson, one great grandchild, Nicholas Alexander DeBusk, two sisters, Charlotte J. Linkous of Blacksburg and Shirley Jones of Hawaii. Funeral services will be held, Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 2pm at the Givens Funeral Chapel in Pearisburg with the Rev. Dr. Fred L. Austin and Charles Henderson officiating with burial following in the Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at Givens Funeral Home one hour before the service from 1 – 2pm. In lieu of flowers the family requests monetary donations be made to the Funeral Home to help with expenses. Online condolences can be sent to the family at givensfuneralhome.com.