Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Johnson, Sallie Griffin July 25, 1968
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Robert Woolfitt http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008401 April 17, 2026, 6:47 pm

Virginian-Pilot July 26, 1968
NORFOLK — Mrs. Sallie Griffin Johnson, 93, a music teacher and former soloist 
and choir director in Norfolk and Portsmouth churches, died Thursday afternoon 
in the home of a son, Thomas G. Johnson of 3956 Richardson Road, Virginia Beach.
She lived in Rosedale apartments, 610 W. Princess Anne Road.
A native of Woodville, Bertie County, N.C., she was a daughter of Dr. John 
Samuel Griffin and Mrs. Mary Lockhart Smallwood Griffin and the widow of Archer 
Walton Johnson.
She attended St. Mary's Junior College in Raleigh. She graduated from Martha 
Washington College at Abingdon and Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore, majoring in 
piano. She also studied with H. W. Greene in New York.
Before coming here, she taught at Sullins College, Bristol, and Millersburg 
(Ky.) College.
She came to Portsmouth and sang in Monumental Methodist Church choir as leading 
soprano. Later she was leading soprano at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Norfolk, 
under choirmaster Walter Harrell.
She also was choir director at McKendree Methodist Church, Colley Memorial 
Presbyterian Church, and Norview Baptist Church.
Early in her career she gave concerts for the benefit of the first public 
kindergartens in Norfolk. She taught voice and piano. Among her voice pupils 
were Archie Twiford, Mark Cole, and Virginia Breeden.
At old Ohef Sholom Temple on Freemason Street, she was leading soprano of a 
quartet directed by J. J. Miller. She also sang at Hope Chapel.
Besides her son, Thomas, surviving are two other sons, James P. Johnson and John 
S. Johnson of Norfolk; two daughters, Mrs. Robert F. McMurran of Portsmouth and 
Mrs. Woodrow C. Shepherd of Norfolk; five grandchildren; and four great-
grandchildren.
The body will be taken from H. D. Oliver Funeral Apartments to Elmwood Cemetery 
for a funeral service Saturday at 11 a.m. by the Rev. Roger Snyder of St. 
Andrew's Episcopal Church. The family, which will be at 3956 Richardson Road, 
Virginia Beach, has requested that flowers be omitted.

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