Celebrating a life well-lived
Some photos from the life of Johnny P. Johnson
January 30, 1936 – November 5, 2022
The gallery of still images found below includes a series of historic photos from the life of Johnny P. Johnson. You can use the buttons to move left or right through the slideshow at your own leisure.
While a student at Virginia State, Johnny Johnson served as a legendary point guard on the school’s basketball team. He also served as the team captain. 
Shortly after graduating from Virginia State, Johnny Johnson, a native of North Carolina, accepted a teaching position in Fredericksburg, Virginia. 
Johnny Johnson receives an Outstanding Educator Award from Edward Amrhein, president of James Monroe High School’s Key Club, October 1968. (File / Nelson Brooks / The Free Lance-Star) 
Johnny and Jean Johnson at their 1961 wedding. 
Johnny & Jean Johnson during their early years as Fredericksburg educators. 
Johnny Johnson with his mother. 
Johnny Johnson leads an art session at Correctional Field Unit 21 in Stafford County in March 1973. (File / Barry Fitzgerald / The Free Lance-Star) 
Johnny and Jean Johnson with their boys, Shelton and John Patrick, 1977. 
Johnny Johnson, probably in the 1970s. 
Johnny Johnson shares an art insight with student Anne Gurley in November 1976. (File / Mark von Wehdren / The Free Lance-Star) 
Johnny Johnson in his art classroom at Fredericksburg’s James Monroe High School in August 1979. (File / Mark von Wehdren / The Free Lance-Star) 
Johnny Johnson shortly after it was announced in June 1983 that he had won “best in show” honors at the Fredericksburg Art Festival. (File / Norm Shafer / The Free Lance-Star) 
In 1984, Johnny Johnson poses next to his students’ posters for a project sponsored by the Rappahannock Alliance Against Nuclear War. (File / Norm Shafer / The Free Lance-Star) 
Mary Washington Hospital’s pediatric wing was made a little brighter in August 1987 with this painting by Johnny Johnson. (File / Norm Shafer / The Free Lance-Star) 
Johnny Johnson talks with Michael Evans about his art project for the Rappahannock Big Brothers Big Sisters art show at Fredericksburg’s Old Mill Park in June 1988. (File / Robert A. Martin / The Free Lance-Star) 
Johnny Johnson critiques the art of a student taking his course at Germanna Community College, January 1995. (File / Norm Shafer / The Free Lance-Star) 
Johnny Johnson paints in his Charles Street studio in 1995. (File / Norm Shafer / The Free Lance-Star) 
Johnny Johnson’s granddaughter Kaila Johnson and daughter-in-law Lori Johnson look on as Johnny Johnson speaks about some of his works, displayed in showcases at Spotsylvania’s School Board office. (File / Suzanne Carr / The Free Lance-Star) 
For many years, Johnny Johnson creatively led the art activities at the annual vacation Bible school at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site), 
Gladys Todd with Johnny Johnson. 
At the invitation of U.S. Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater, Johnny Johnson led a series of art workshops for children and adults in Benin. 
For many years, Johnny Johnson served as superintendent of the Sunday school at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site), often speaking to the assembled attendees from this podium. 
Johnny Johnson frequently offered his thoughts and suggestions to young people. Here he shares his wisdom in 2013 with eager listeners at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where he long served as a deacon. 
Johnny Johnson hangs tags next to artworks in the Art First Gallery in downtown Fredericksburg in 2009. (Rebecca Sell / The Free Lance-Star) 
As a beloved leader at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site), Johnny Johnson often spoke to the congregation from the pulpit, offering announcements, heart-felt prayers, and humble words of encouragement. 
Johnny Johnson with some of his fellow deacons from Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site). 
Johnny Johnson adds some finishing touches to one of his large-scale paintings. 
As a deacon at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site), Johnny Johnson was faithful in visiting the sick and shut-in. Here’s visiting in 2010 with Thelma and Weldon Bailey. 
Johnny Johnson with a group of Virginia State alumni. 
Johnny Johnson with his son John Patrick Johnson. 
Deacon Johnny Johnson offers a tribute the retirement dinner for his pastor, the Rev. Lawrence Davies. 
Johnny Johnson chats with John Hollis after a 2015 Sunday morning service at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site). 
Johnny Johnson in the sanctuary at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) in 2018. 
After a Sunday morning service, Johnny Johnson greets the Rev. Jim Webb, a guest speaker at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site). 
The Walker Grant Alumni Association honors Johnny Johnson’s service to the community with the planting of three trees next to the outdoor classroom at the original Walker Grant school. 
Johnny Johnson with Rev. Lawrence Davies, Mrs. Marguerite Young, and Rev. Aaron Dobynes, preparing (symbolically) to plant trees near the old Walker-Grant School. 
Johnny Johnson with his son, Shelton Johnson 
Jean and Johnny Johnson at a banquet event. 
Johnny Johnson enjoys a formal event with his sons John Patrick Johnson and Shelton Johnson. 
Barbara Weston, Sylvia Johnson, Jean Johnson, Johnny Johnson, and the Rev. Lawrence Davies wait to surprise Gaye Adegbalola at a program in 2016. (Suzanne Carr Rossi / The Free Lance-Star) 
Deacon Johnny Johnson (at far left) offers words of challenge and hope to a group of newly installed deacons, January 2018. 
In 2018, Johnny Johnson hugs his grandson, Cameron Johnson, after Cameron sang a song in his grandfather’s honor at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) in Fredericksburg. 
Well-wishers greet Jean and Johnny Johnson at the close of an event kicking off ‘Celebrate Johnny P. Johnson Day’ at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site), 2018. 
Johnny Johnson talks with Bill Harris, who created the mural of Johnny Johnson on the side of a downtown Fredericksburg building, July 2018. (Kathryn Willis) 
In July 2018, Johnny Johnson poses with other members of his family in front of a mural painted in his honor on the side of a downtown Fredericksburg building. (Pete Cihelka) 
On a Saturday morning in October 2018, Johnny Johnson chats with A’Dan Coghill in his studio on Charles Street in Fredericksburg, Virginia. 
David Johnson and Johnny Johnson visit in Johnny Johnson’s studio during the annual “yard sale” sponsored by the Faith and Hope Club at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site). 
Paint brushes and other tools in Johnny Johnson’s studio, October 2018. 
Johnny Johnson visits with guests in studio during a 2018 open house. 
Johnny Johnson visits with guests in studio during a 2018 open house. 
Johnny Johnson visits with guests in studio during a 2018 open house. 
Conversations during the Faith & Hope Ministry’s fall sale at Johnny P. Johnson’s studio, October 27, 2018 
Johnny Johnson with some of his paintings. 
Johnny Johnson visits with guests at a 2022 reception in his honor at the Fredericksburg Visitor’s Center. 
Johnny Johnson (left) listens to John McGuire talk during a reception at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center, 2022. (Suzanne Carr Rossi for The Free Lance-Star) 
Johnny Johnson with one of his paintings. 
Johnny and Jean Johnson share a kiss.
The video below features historic images from the life of Johnny P. Johnson. It was prepared for and shown at his funeral service at James Monroe High School in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on November 19, 2022.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Johnny P. Johnson may be made to one or more of the following:
- Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) Foreign Missions Ministry, 801 Sophia Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401.
- Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) Home Missions Ministry, 801 Sophia Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401.
- The Johnny P. Johnson Art Scholarship of the Partnership for Academic Excellence, P.O. Box 7052, Fredericksburg, VA 22404.
- Virginia State University, Office of Institutional Advancement, P.O. Box 9027, Virginia State University, VA 23806.
A digital version of the printed program prepared for Johnny Johnson’s funeral service, held at 11 a.m., November 19, 2022
Video interviews with Johnny Johnson
The video below features a 2012 interview with Johnny Johnson. The interview was conducted in Jamaica while he was exhibiting some of his work there.
In the video below, conducted in 2016, Johnny Johnson reflects on his life, his art, and his career.
The video below includes comments by Johnny Johnson and by others in the Fredericksburg community who have known him well.