John B. Johnson passed away Feb 22, 1981

Articles have been edited by Suzanne Forte for brevity and to avoid mention of living individuals.

John B. Johnson has rarely been far from home in his 82 years.  He was bon in the Youth community and still lives there, just off Broadnax Mill Road.

"There really was a mill," he says.  "It was a great place.  People would come from six or eight miles away to mill corn and wheat.  There was a big pond with a dam, but it's just about all gone now.  When I was a youngster, it was run by Jim McRae.  Later it was run by J. W. Briscoe, Albert Brooks, Jim Brooks, Otis Compton and Bud Brooks."

Mr. Johnson, or John B, as he is called, is the son of the late William Johnson and Neppie (Coffee) Johnson.  They lived in the Youth community and raised even boys and three girls.

Of the ten children in the Johnson family, six are still living.

About 1916, John B met Candace Needham.  They were married for 33 years before she died in 1949.  Her parents were the late Raleigh Needham and Fannie (Kent) Needham.  John B and Candace were married by Wesley Leppard, a justice of the peace, who was father of Delphia Hamilton.

"My wife's father,  he notes, "was a Confederate Veteran.  He was called a peacemaker because if two people had an argument they would come to him and he would listen to them and decide the argument for them.  His word was accepted because he was a good and fair man."

John B and Candace had six children, four of whom are still living.

Mr. Johnson has stayed busy all his life.  He has never driven a car, but always drove a tractor wherever he wanted to go.  He has perfect 20-20 vision and enjoys reading and watching television.  He has also laid many foundations in his lifetime, including the milking parlor for Alton Tucker's dairy on Broadnax Mill Road.