Isle of Wight County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Johnson, Albert S., 1961 

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Albert S. Johnson, Prominent Smithfield Man, Is Found Dead 

  SMITHFIELD - Albert Sydney [sic; Sidney] Johnson, 87, former president of 
the James River Bridge corporation and long-time member of the House of 
Delegates, was found dead of a shotgun wound at his home here yesterday about 
noon. 

  A maid and a yardman found his body near the house, some time after he had 
gone into the yard to shoot at jaybirds on his property.  Members of his 
family said he often had gone outside for that purpose. 

  Police were told that the servants had heard only one shot.  Dr. Hugh 
Warren, county medical examiner, made an investigation, and ruled the death 
accidental, pending an autopsy. 

  According to investigating officers, Mr. Johnson died of a gunshot wound in 
the chest.  He was carrying a 12-gauge shotgun. 

  Police Chief David Hemmis said Johnson had been downtown in Smithfield 
yesterday morning, stopping at the bank and various stores. 

  Mr. Johnson was clerk of Isle of Wight court for 15 years, after which he 
practiced law.  He served several terms in the state House of Delegates, and 
later directed the Legislative Reference Bureau. 

  He retired from active law practice in 1930 to become general manager of the 
James River Bridge corporation and later became president. 

  He organized and was first president of the Virginia Clerks' association, 
and was honored by that organization in August, 1960, at a meeting in Newport 
News. 

  A native of Isle of Wight county, he was a son of the late Benjamin R. and 
Myra Bradshaw Johnson.  He was a captain in the Spanish-American war, and 
took active part in numerous community affairs.  He was a member and former 
vestryman of Christ Episcopal church. 

  Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Matten Johnson; a daughter, Mrs. 
James A.L. Mathers, Englewood, N.J.; a sister, Mrs. C.E. King, and a brother, 
Z.C. Johnson, both of Windsor; and two grandchildren. 

  Graveside rites will be conducted at 11 a.m. tomorrow in St. Luke's 
cemetery.  The family has requested that contributions be made to the Heart 
Fund in lieu of flowers.  The body is at Jones Funeral Home. 

****************************************************************************** 

Albert S. Johnson Buried Monday In St. Luke's Cemty. 

  Albert Sidney Johnson, 87, of Smithfield died Saturday, September 2, 1961 
in the basement of his home on Church Street, Smithfield of a shotgun wound 
in the left chest.  Dr. Hugh Warren, Isle of Wight coroner listed the death 
as accidental pending an autopsy at the state crime laboratory in Norfolk. 

  Powder burns showed the shot from a 12-gauge shotgun was fired at close 
range. 

  Relatives said Mr. Johnson had been out shooting birds.  He was found dead 
about noon Saturday. 

  The death was later listed as suicide by Isle of Wight Medical Examiner Dr. 
Hugh Warren based on the report of the autopsy performed Sunday. 

  Mr. Johnson was a former legislator and was president of the James River 
Bridge System until it was sold to the state in 1949. 

  He served fifteen years as Isle of Wight County Clerk and resigned to open 
law practice. 

  In 1930 he retired from law practice to become general manager and later 
president of the James River Bridge Corporation. 

  He represented Isle of Wight County in the General Assembly for several 
terms and also directed the Legislative Reference Bureau. 

  He was a vestryman of Christ Episcopal Church, Smithfield. 

  Mr. Johnson was a son of Benjamin Robert and Mrs. Myra Bradshaw Johnson of 
Isle of Wight County. 

  Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Batten Johnson; a daughter, Mrs. 
James A.L. Mathers, wife of Dr. J.A.L. Mathers of Englewood, New Jensey; a 
sister, Mrs. C.E. King, and a brother, Z.C. Johnson, both of Windsor; and 
two grandchildren, Elizabeth Mathers and James A.L. Mathers Jr. of Englewood. 

  The body was taken to the Jones Funeral Home.  Services were held in St. 
Luke's Memorial Cemetery Monday, September 4 at 11 A.M. conducted by the Right 
Reverend Rev. William A. Brown, retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of 
Southern Virginia, and the Rev. Taylor Willis of Norfolk, Rector of Christ 
Episcopal Church, Smithfield. 

  Pallbearers were James Heptinstall, W.P. Warren, Robert M. Osborn, W.W. 
Kitchin, Harvey Parker and William Webster. 


Albert Sidney JOHNSON, retired attorney, former Clerk & Delegate, 
   Army veteran of the Spanish-American War, 
b. 22 Jan 1874, Windsor, IoW.Co., suicide 2 Sep 1961, at home, Smithfield, 
interred in St. Luke's Memorial Park*, Benns Church, 20 Nov 1960, 
"Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 39, No. 209, Sun., Sep. 3, 1961, p. 1; 
"Smithfield (VA) Times," Vol. 42, No. 36, Thurs., Sep. 7, 1961, p. 1 

*Additional information: 

Isle of Wight County Historical Society {IWCHS} 
   Grave Site Survey Task Force {GSSTF} report #18: 
   http://www.iwchs.com/Cemetery-Reports.html 

A photo of his gravestone - added by Hixburg23958 - is posted with 
   Find a Grave Memorial #184183831. 

D.Cert. 23897 (Dist. 146 #50) 

His parents & maternal grandfather, Joshua BRADSHAW, are buried in a JOHNSON 
   family cemetery, Buckhorn Rd.  Shattered, Joshua's gravestone was mis-read 
   "Joshia."  (IWCHS GSSTF report #142) 

His widowed father 2m. Myra's sis Lucy Ann (BRADSHAW) JOHNSON.  She is buried 
   in Windsor Cemetery.  (IWCHS GSSTF report #26) 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
and re-formatted by File Manager Matt Harris. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/obits/j525a21o.txt