Softly and gently, with love and compassion, our Lord transitioned His servant Donald Winston Johnson from earthly cares unto eternal rest in the early morning hours on Sunday, August 17, 2014 at his home surrounded by his wife and daughter. The battle is over; the victory is won. Praise God for His immeasurable grace.

Born on July 14,1936 in New York City, the Rev. Dr. Johnson was the youngest son of the late London B. and Martha Ann Johnson. At an early age, he and his parents relocated to Norfolk, Virginia where he accepted Christ as his savior and was baptized at the First Baptist Church in the Lambert's Point section of Norfolk.

Dr. Johnson is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, attended Norfolk State University, and received his B.A. and M.S. degrees in History and Biblical Studies from Union Christian College in New York. He is the recipient of the Honorary Dr. of Divinity degree from VA Seminary and College (VA University of Lynchburg) where he once served on the faculty and later as a member of the Board of Trustees and as its Chairman. He participated as a facilitator in numerous conferences and seminars as well as several Baptist Associations in Virginia, recently as Moderator of the United Baptist Buckingham County which he co-founded after combining two smaller conferences into a larger, more viable one. He was also especially endeared with his many years of association and former presidency of Lynchburg Covenant Fellowship and Camp Kum-Ba-Yah under the auspices of one of his mentors, the late Rev. Bev Cosby and family of Lynchburg. Dr. Johnson's board memberships and other religious, civic, and community affiliations and awards were many; however; he cared less about personal accolades and more about being a servant to others in the cause of Christ.

Dr. Johnson's fifty-three years of pastorates included Union Bethel Baptist Church, Jolliff; First Baptist Church, Hill St., both of Chesapeake, VA; Court St. Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA; Union Mission Baptist Church, Crozet, VA; Mt. Nebo Baptist Church, Dillwyn, VA; and Union Baptist Church, Waynesboro, VA from which he retired in June 2012 and was named pastor Emeritus. He always took delight in encouraging and mentoring younger ministers and colleagues as well as the parishioner in each church. He forever looked for the best in others, expecting excellence, and could find something good in everyone. A serious expositor of the Holy Scriptures, he frequently laced his sermons with humor and practical, common sense homilies. He usually concluded his motivational addresses with this personal motto: "Good, better, best; Never let it rest; Until your good becomes better; and your better becomes best. And when you've done your best, God will do the rest."

In addition to his parents, Dr. Johnson was predeceased by brothers, Herbert, Russell, and Paul; sister, Audrey Chaney; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harold and Vera Hagans. He leaves to cherish his endearing legacy his devoted wife of 49 years Harriett Hagans Johnson; loving daughter, JaVera Donalda Johnson Bolden and her husband Christopher Allen Bolden; precious granddaughters, Christina SaVera Bolden (Lump of Sugar) and Allana Danielle Bolden (Sweetie Pie); sister, Nancy Walker of New York City and brother, Calvin C. Johnson, of Atlanta, GA; aunts, Bettye J. Davis and Mary Alice J. Massenburg, of Norlina, N.C., sisters-in-law, Sandra l. Hagans, of VA Beach, VA and Gail H. Williams and husband, Edward of Suffolk, VA; brother-in-law, Harold L. Hagans, Jr. and wife Teresa of Lorton, VA; life-long friends, William and Edith Staten, of Hampton, VA and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

A commemorative service of a life well spent will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2014, at Diamond Hill Baptist Church with the Pastor the Rev. Warren Anderson, officiant and eulogist. Interment will be held on Monday, August 25, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in Fort Hill Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 7 until 8 p.m. on Friday, August 22, 2014 at Davis-Turner Funeral Service. Condolences may be sent to www.Davis-Turner.com. Service of comfort rendered by Davis-Turner Funeral Service.