H.T. Johnson

Hiram Thomas Johnson (H.T.), born June 14, 1928, died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, September 29, 2016, at the age of 88. H.T., born in Clinchport, Virginia, was the son of the late Arthur Lee Johnson, Sr. and Eliza Jane Lawson Johnson. H.T. was the eighth of eleven children and the last surviving member of the A.L. Johnson, Sr. family. He met his wife, Meredith Isley, in a bus station in Asheville, North Carolina. He was returning to the Navy from leave and Meredith was on her way to Lee's McRae College. Meredith was from Swannanoa, NC. H.T. said it was love at first sight. They were married in Black Mountain, NC on March 25, 1952. He retired from Holston Defense in 1992. H.T. was an avid gardener and grew fruits and vegetables. He also enjoyed playing golf with his brothers and brothers -in-law, but, what H.T. enjoyed the most, was playing checkers and shooting a game of pool. He was a champion pool player, winning many tournaments sponsored by Eastman Recreation and Holston Defense. His biggest joy was playing pool at the senior citizens center in Church Hill, where he was nicknames "Number 1", since he was unbeatable at pool or checkers. H.T. enjoyed traveling to visit his daughter at her home in Indiana. The last years of his life, he re-visited Southwest Virginia, East Tennessee, and Western North Carolina mountains and communities he frequented growing up. His reminisching of days gone by was a joy to his daughters and grandchildren; sharing stories of his upbringing, along with family traditions. The Johnson family was a caring family that helped others. H.T. held true to his traditions of caring and helping those in need. He was a member of the Holston View United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Meredith Isley Johnson; brothers, R. Curtis Johnson and Rella S. Johnson, Clyde B. Johnson and Sylva M. Johnson, Arthur L. Johnson, Jr., Ross Paul Johnson, and John Floyd (J.F.) Johnson; and sisters, Eureta Johnson Baldwin and Morris Baldwin, Edna Johnson Pratt and Frank Pratt, Mary Johnson Davis and Cliff Davis, Martha Jane Johnson, and Phyllis Johnson McConnell.

H.T. is survived by his daughters, Patricia Gail Leonard and husband Alex of Church Hill, Brenda Kay Gibson and husband Pete of Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Cecelia Ellen Bowen and husband Jason of Kingsport; five grandchildren, Scott Christian, Todd Christian, Leigh Nieves and husband Shane Henshaw, Adria Pierce and John Michael Pierce; four great-grandchildren, Chris Christian, Jordan Christian, Abby Christian, and Leila Pierce; and one great-great-grandchild, Zayden Christian-Steward. H.T. is also survived by many nieces and nephews, whom he loved to interact with, but held a special place in his heart for his niece, Kim Isley.

The family will receive friends from 12 to 2 p.m. on Monday, October 3, 2016 at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. with Pastor Gary Gerhardt officiating.

Burial will follow at Holston View Cemetery in Weber City, VA.

Pallbearers will be grandchildren and extended family members.

The family would like to thank the caring nurses and residential aids at Brookdale Rock Springs and the Wellmont Hospice Team who helped with the final months of his life. H.T. had frequent visits from family and friends. Gail and Cecelia spent most days with their dad for several months. Tammy was the overnight caregiver that H.T. loved being around. A special thank you to Deena, his longtime neighbor, friend, and companion, for the last four years after they both lost their spouses.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Holston View United Methodist Church, 174 Church St, Weber City, VA 24290; Alzheimer's Association, 2020 Meadowview Pkwy #100, Kingsport, TN 37660; or the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org/donate.

Cemetery Details