Rev. Dr. Nelson Napoleon Johnson was born on a beautiful Sunday, April 25, 1943, to the late Zelma Blanche Thorne Johnson and James Ransom Johnson. His Savior saw fit to call him to glory on another beautiful Sunday, February 9, 2025.

Born in Littleton, North Carolina, Rev. Johnson was the 6 th child of a loving family of nine children. He accepted Christ at an early age at Lees Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, a church founded by his grandfather, Nelson Thorne. Educated in the segregated Halifax County Schools, Rev. Johnson graduated from the Mighty McIver High School in 1961 and went on to serve honorably in the US Air Force from 1961 until 1965. He entered North Carolina A&T State University in the fall of 1965, where his initial path for social justice and civil rights began to take shape.

He met his wife, Joyce Hobson Johnson of Richmond, Virginia, in February 1969, and they were married on May 24, 1969. To this loving union were born two daughters, Akua Johnson Matherson and Ayodele Samori Johnson.

Rev. Johnson received his call to the ministry in 1986 and received his master's in theology from Virginia Union Theological Seminary in 1989. He served as assistant pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina from 1989 to 1991. He founded Faith Community Church in 1993, serving as senior pastor until his retirement in 2018. With his loving wife, they co-founded the Beloved Community Center of Greensboro in 1991, along with others. Here he found his life's work.

Rev. Johnson was preceded in death by both parents and his beloved stepmother, Elizabeth Brown Johnson; siblings, Genotre (Jean), Edward (Sonny), James (Mac), Alice, Valerie (Birdie) and Alma (Mickey).

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 55 years, Joyce Johnson; daughters Akua Matherson and Ayodele Johnson; granddaughter Alise Jamill Matherson and grandson Nelson Josiah Samori Johnson, all of Greensboro, NC; brothers Ivan P. Johnson (Mary) of Littleton, NC, Simon S. Johnson (Dollean) of Winston-Salem, NC; sister-in-law Elizabeth M. Johnson of Littleton, NC; brother-in-law Herbert Hobson, Greensboro, NC and stepsister Linda Brown of Roanoke Rapids, NC; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended relatives.

A public viewing will be held on Thursday, February 20 th from 1pm to 6pm in the Cassie Coote Chapel at Perry J. Brown Funeral Home, 909 East Market Street, Greensboro, NC.

The Homegoing service will be held on Friday, February 21 st at New Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 408 Martin Luther King Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27406; visitation begins with the family at 12 noon followed by the service at 1pm.

Services