James H. “Red” Johnson

Newport News, Virginia
James H. “Red” Johnson, 96, of Newport News passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2025.
James was born in Concord, North Carolina to Mervie Johnson and Annie Aldridge. When he was a youth, the family relocated to Menchville, Virginia. After graduating from Warwick High School in 1947, James entered the Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School where he graduated in 1953 with honors, receiving the Homer L Ferguson Award for academic excellence. While living in Newport News, he met his future wife, Margaret.
James faithfully served his tour of duty in the U.S. Army in the early 1950s where he rose to the rank of  Corporal. He developed many fruitful friendships throughout the years. While he was preparing to deploy with his assigned unit, he caught pneumonia and was held behind at the base hospital. Here, he met Roger Henshaw, a fellow army recruit who was in the same hospital. After they recovered, Roger was reassigned to the same unit as James and they were sent together to meet up with their unit overseas. That chance meeting developed a friendship that lasted a lifetime. Although they lived many states away from one another, the two remained close friends and kept in frequent contact throughout their lifetime. James was also keen to keep in touch with friends Roy and Troy Ellington, from his youth back in Concord. Along with telephone calls, the annual exchange of Christmas cards always included a brief update of the year’s events.
After his tour of duty in the U.S. Army, James continued his employment at Newport News Shipbuilding where he retired as a supervisor from the Piping and Design Division in 1983.
Following retirement, he and his wife Margaret lived out their dream by spending many years at their second home in Nelson County, Virginia. At their farm home, they spent joyful hours overlooking their apple orchards, tending to their garden, and growing a variety of berries and nut trees. James even developed an interest in beekeeping after being introduced to local beekeeper and fellow Newport News resident Ray Womble. The two friends spent many hours tending bees and harvesting honey. James had other interests including stamp collecting, wood crafting, and spending time with his grandchildren. He especially enjoyed the time he spent introducing his grandchildren to the quiet life on his farm where they would spend many hours playing in the “minnow pond”, picking applies and berries, exploring the surrounding mountains, and taking rides on the tractor.
James is survived by one daughter, Anna Taylor, and husband Mike, two sons, Tony Johnson and wife Carla of Ohio, Richard “Wayne” Johnson of Yorktown; two grandsons, Kevin, and Eric; two granddaughters, Kristina and Samantha; and four great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, James was preceded in death by his loving wife Margaret Pyatte Johnson; one son, Curtis Ray Johnson; his two brothers, Walter and Samuel, and one sister, Jewel Moon.
Services will be conducted at Amory Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at NOON. Private Family Burial following the service.
A special thanks for all the loving care provided by Riverside Hospice and his “family” at Mennowood Retirement Community of Newport News where he and Margaret enjoyed their final golden years developing and enjoying new friendships.
James had a generous spirit and a lifelong commitment to helping others. In keeping with this, the family kindly asks that if you choose to make a remembrance, please make one in the form of a donation to the charity closest to your heart, in lieu of flowers.