James Allen Johnson Sr.

Published 10:27 am Sunday, June 1, 2025

James Allen Johnson, Sr., 97, passed away on Thursday, April 24, 2025, having just spent the day with all five of his children. James, son of Horace Greely Johnson and Bessie Motley Johnson, was born at Baptist Hospital in Selma, Alabama on January 11, 1928. He had two sisters and four brothers. James was a 1947 graduate of A. G. Parrish High School, where he was recognized as the “Best Dressed Senior” in the school yearbook. Beyond high school, he studied management at the GM Training Center in Atlanta in a program conducted by Northwestern University. He also served in the Alabama National Guard and subsequently spent his entire career in management positions in Selma, primarily Johnson Motor Company, Ted Gentry Chevrolet, and H&H Manufacturing. In 1951, he married Mary Elizabeth Bearden and they honeymooned in Mexico. They had five children: Patricia Johnson, Dr. James Johnson, Jr., Paige Johnson Hodo, Marcus Johnson, Sr., and Michelle Johnson Bush. There were eight grandchildren and five great- grandchildren along with many nephews and nieces. His grandchildren were Kendal Johnson Woodard, Dr. Allen Johnson, Adam Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson, Marcus Johnson, Jr., Annie Johnson Barrett, Matthew Bush, and Nolan Bush. His sons-in-law included Dr. David Hodo of Selma and Mike Bush of Montgomery. While James was well known in Dallas County for his business acumen, he was also known for hosting the annual Johnson Family and Friends Fourth of July gathering, which had as many as 200 attendees in some years. This tradition was started by James’ grandfather, James Henry Johnson, in the early 1900’s. The event was so well known it was written about in Southern Living Magazine, many Alabama newspapers, and once featured in a narration on NPR (National Public Radio).
James’ hobbies when he was younger included bird hunting, fishing, and horse-back riding. Later in life he enjoyed Alabama football, gardening, reading, and hosting a weekly poker game for his brothers and close friends. He was an avid reader with many favorite authors, including James Lee Burke, John Grisham, Larry McMurty, and Pat Conroy, as well as older ones such as Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, and Ernest Hemingway. James also enjoyed music, especially Hank Williams, whom he once met, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley. James was known for his humor and kindness. He will surely live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know him.
James was buried in the family plot at New Live Oak Cemetery on May 2nd. Pallbearers included James Jr. (Beau), Mike Bush, and Jesse Woodard.
Endnote: Some of this information first appeared in “The Johnson Family History” by Judge Paul Whitson Johnson.