William Edward Johnson

William Edward “Billy” Johnson, son of the late Evelyn Cantrell Johnson and Frederick Ross Johnson, died on January 13, 2026. Born on May 23, 1935, in Floyd County, Georgia, he lived his entire life in Rome, Georgia.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Nancy Hale Johnson, whom he married on August 24, 1956, and by his two brothers, Frederick Ross Johnson, Jr. and James Robert Johnson, both of Rome, Georgia.

He is survived by his three children: Elizabeth Johnson Kellogg (Jim) of Marietta, Georgia; Virginia Johnson Guth (Eddie) of Rome, Georgia; and William Edward Johnson, Jr. (Elizabeth) of Birmingham, Alabama. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: James Douglas Kellogg, Jr. (Katie), Michael Ellis Kellogg (Heather), David Fleming Kellogg (Katie), Howard William Guth, Jay Ellis Guth (Kayla) , William Edward Johnson III, and Virginia Warner Johnson; and by three great-grandchildren: Harrison James Kellogg, Henry Douglas Kellogg, and Caroline Ellis Kellogg.

In addition to Darlington School and Emory University, Mr. Johnson was a graduate of the Insurance Marketing Institute at Southern Methodist University. He was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Rome, where he served as a deacon and as church treasurer for more than 20 years.

Mr. Johnson was a member of the Rome Rotary Club for over 60 years, serving as president and earning recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a member and past president of the Rome Jaycees and was named Rome’s Outstanding Young Man in 1967. He served on numerous boards of directors, including Home Federal Savings Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, the YMCA, and Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.

Mr. Johnson spent his career as a life insurance agent with the Piedmont Agency until his retirement. He will be remembered by his family as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and by many others as a loyal friend and respected member of the community.

Family and friends will be received at the First Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 17th at 1 pm. A funeral service will follow at 2 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 101 E 3rd Ave. Rome, GA 30161 or to the charity of your choice.