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News / Obituaries / Southampton Press / 1450244

Joseph Johnson Jr. Of Southampton Dies March 7

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author on Mar 15, 2019

Joseph Johnson Jr., known to most as “Sonny” or “Uncle Frank,” died March 7, 2019. He was 83.

Born January 6, 1936, in Southampton to the late Joseph Johnson Sr. and Mamie Johnson, he attended Southampton High School, where he was a member of the track team. At an early age, he was baptized and became a member of First Baptist Church of Southampton and later he became a member of Padgett Temple C.O.G.I.C, under the leadership Pastor Ernest Cowell Jr., where he was a very faithful and was a Deacon.

Mr. Johnson loved gardening, and became known especially for the delicious cucumbers and tomatoes he grew.

He enlisted in the United States Army, and was later honorably discharged. He started a career as a very skilled carpenter, but he went on to work for the Southampton Town Highway Department, where he remained until retirement. While he worked there, his coworkers got to enjoy the special southern homecooked meals made by his wife, mother, or some delicious fried chicken by his father. He stopped at McDonald’s in Southampton every night for coffee.

From a previous marriage, three children were born. He later met and married Irene Craggette and they had two children.

Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Irene Johnson of Southampton; his children, Denise Ross (Clyde) of Mattituck, Joseph Johnson III of Flanders, Tina Renee’ Johnson of Virginia Beach, and Lisa Johnson (ex-son in-law, Charles) of Virginia Beach; two sisters, Deloris Crump (Fred) of Bayshore and Lola Carpenter of Gordon Heights; three brothers, James Johnson (Brenda) of Riverhead, Eddy Cullam of Southampton, and Carl Diggs of Pennsylvania; two aunts, Martha Craggette (Fred) of Southampton and Mary Taylor of Flanders; an uncle, William Hopson of East Hampton; 11 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and two great-Great grandchildren. He is also survived by three special friends, Richard Oliver, Lawrence Finney, and Louis Pinkney; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was predeceased by daughter, Karen Elaine Johnson.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton.

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