Dr. James C. Johnson

home on Thursday, July 8, 2021. He was surrounded by his loving family who cared for him for

the last two years.

Dr. Johnson was born in Birmingham, AL to Curtis and Mittie Lee Johnson and grew up

in Inglenook. He knew from an early age that he wanted to be a doctor. He attended Phillips

High School then continued his education at Howard College and at Birmingham-Southern

College, where he met the love of his life, Sally Ann Wood. They married at First United

Methodist Church downtown in 1954.

At Birmingham-Southern Dr. Johnson was well-prepared for his entrance exams for

medical school and was accepted at the University of Alabama Medical College of Alabama,

now known as UAB School of Medicine. After graduating from medical school in the class of

1956 and completing his internship at Hillman Hospital, he joined the Air Force as a flight

surgeon. He attained the rank of captain, and was stationed in San Antonio where he was the

base doctor. When he decided to go home and go into private practice, he received an honorable

discharge.

The Johnson Family returned to Birmingham in 1959 where Dr. Johnson started Shades

Mountain Clinic in Bluff Park with Dr. Ernest Campbell and Dr. Joe Bancroft. The three of them

worked together as General Practitioners while they each went back for training in different

specialties of medicine. Dr. Johnson became a Pediatrician by completing his residency at

Children's Hospital of Alabama where he was Chief Resident from July 1, 1964 until June 30,

1965. He later founded Vestavia Pediatrics with Dr. David Simpson.

Dr. Johnson was a beloved medical provider for many generations of Birmingham

residents. Stories have been told about patients in their mid-twenties sneaking back into the

office for treatment from their favorite pediatrician. He would have a little talk with them after

seeing them and would gently tell them that it was time to get a doctor who treated adults.

To quote one of his colleagues at Vestavia Pediatrics, Joe Hamm, “I can’t really

express the gratitude I have for his influence on my life. He gave me the opportunity here at

Vestavia Pediatrics, then taught me how to do it. I have never known anyone to do it better. He

was a friend, a partner, and really a ‘father’ to me in my profession. Thank you for sharing him

with us.”

Dr. Johnson received The Wallace Alexander Clyde Distinguished Service Award for

excellence in Pediatrics from Children’s Hospital in 1998, and a Certificate of Distinction for 50

years in the Practice of Medicine from the Medical Association of the State of Alabama in 2006.

He was a member of Vestavia Country Club and The Birmingham Sailing Club, where he was

Commodore in 1976. He was a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a member of

Canterbury United Methodist Church since 1970.

He was predeceased in death by his parents and by his two sons, James Curtis Johnson,

Jr. and Mark Christopher Johnson. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sally Wood Johnson,

and his two loving daughters, Sally Johnson Morriss (Dan) and Susan Johnson Lawrence. His

six grandchildren are Sarah Morriss, Katie Morriss Moore (Scott), Daniel Morriss; Juliana

Johnson; and Matti Rose Lawrence and James Johnson “John” Lawrence.

A viewing will be held Wednesday, July 14th from 5:30 pm until 7:00 pm at Ridout’s

Valley Chapel in Homewood.

A celebration of his life will take place at Canterbury United Methodist Church on

Saturday, July 24th at 2pm in the main sanctuary.

Donations may be made to Children’s of Alabama in his memory.