The Reverend Dr. William Mahlen “Bill” Johnson, former pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Southampton, died on November 24 in South Carolina, where he had moved after retirement. He was 72. Born on June 13, 1942, in Batavia, he was the son of Mahlen and Jean Johnson. In addition to Southampton, he had been a pastor at Malta Presbyterian Church, the First Presbyterian Church in McConnelsville, and Lebanon Presbyterian Church, all in Ohio. After 20 years in Southampton, Rev. Johnson moved south, where he served as interim pastor at Purity Presbyterian Church, Tirzah Presbyterian Church and Van Wyck Presbyterian Church, all in South Carolina.
He graduated from Monmouth College in Illinois, and Pittsburgh Seminary in Pennsylvania, where he also earned his doctorate. In Southampton, he was an active member of the community, serving on many church committees, the Ethics Committee at Southampton Hospital, the board of directors of Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch, and he was a member of Rotary. Every morning, he could be heard on WLNG with “Words of Encouragement.”
Rev. Johnson is survived by his wife, Sandra; two daughters, Lisa Manser and husband John of Virginia, and Kristin Tremba and husband Mike of Florida; a son, Michael Johnson and wife Carrie of New Jersey; and six grandchildren, Grace and Elizabeth Manser, Faith Tremba, and Abigail, Aidan and Lydia Johnson.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Green Funeral Home in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Memorial donations may be made to Levine Cancer Institute, Carolina Healthcare Foundation, P.O. Box 32861, Charlotte, NC 28232.
on Dec 15, 2014