Darrell Thomas Johnson

COLUMBIA – Darrell Thomas Johnson, 89, died August 19, 2011. A son of the late Thomas Allen Johnson and Leona Wise Johnson, he grew up on a farm near Windsor in Aiken County and attended Windsor High School. After serving in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939 and 1940, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1940 and served through World War II, and later in the Korean War.

Mr. Johnson earned his BS and Masters Degrees at the University of South Carolina. After 42 years as a teacher, counselor, and administrator in several state agencies, and on the staffs of Governor Dick Riley and Governor John West, he retired in 1982. After being certified as a vocational expert, Mr. Johnson testified as an expert witness in Social Security disability appeals and in workman’s compensation and civil injury cases.

Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Lorena McDonald Johnson; three sons, Darrell Thomas “Tom” Johnson Jr. and his wife Wanda of Jasper County, Daniel M. “Dan” Johnson and his wife Rosalie of Allendale, and E. Allen Johnson of Florence; a daughter, Lorena “Loree” Ratchford and her husband Banks of Irmo; four grandchildren, Darrell Johnson III of Ridgeland, Warren Johnson of Jasper County, C. Banks Ratchford IV of Myrtle Beach, and Bryce Ratchford of Irmo; five great-grandchildren, Darrell “DJ” Johnson IV, Bailey Johnson, Lawson Johnson, Ethan Johnson, and Ginger Rose Johnson, all of Ridgeland; siblings, Lonell Hiers of Florence, Ona Wise Quattlebaum of Kingstree, Don Johnson of Greenwood, Bill Johnson of Williston and J.C. Kaney of Williston. Mr. Johnson was predeceased by three siblings, Grace Kaney of Windsor, Louise Key of Orangeburg and Dan Johnson of Windsor.

The funeral for Mr. Johnson will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, August 22, in the chapel of the Presbyterian Home of Columbia at 700 DaVega Drive, Lexington, SC. Burial will held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 23, in the Flemington Presbyterian Church Cemetery near Hinesville, Ga.

Memorials may be made to the cause of the donor’s choice.