Donnell Earle Johnson

Donnell Earle Johnson, 76, of Raleigh, NC, passed away after a sudden short illness on July 2, 2025. A proud lifelong resident of Raleigh, Donnell often said he was the luckiest man in the world to have been born in what he considered the best place on Earth.

Donnell graduated from Needham Broughton High School in the Class of 1967 and later earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from NC State University in 1978. He spent his entire 40-year career with S&ME (Soil & Material Engineers), where he found great purpose and pride—especially in his work at Raleigh-Durham Airport.

Donnell’s life was rich in the things he loved: annual fishing trips with his lifelong friends, ski vacations, music festivals and concerts, and road trips with Judy. He always found a friend everywhere he went—whether in the aisle of the Harris Teeter or a distant airport terminal.

He was married to Judy Morawski Johnson for 42 years. Don was a loving father to Julia Johnson and Chris Johnson, a proud father-in-law to Liz Johnson, and “Pepa Donnie” to his two grandchildren, Joseph and Dorothy Johnson. He was a cherished brother to Jerry (and Gloria) Johnson and Janice Johnson Nash, and Uncle Don to six nieces and nephews.

Donnell enjoyed gardening, rooting and sharing azaleas and gardenias with neighbors and friends. He was a regular at the Rex Wellness Center, always ready for a good chat while on the exercise bike. He read voraciously, solved daily crosswords and sudokus, and delighted in perfecting his famous peach cobbler recipe—using peaches from his own trees.

After a remarkable recovery from Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2016, Donnell was gifted with nine more vibrant years. He lived them fully, savoring each moment with family and friends. A quote he shared recently sums up his spirit best: “In my 76 years, I’ve learned that friends are your greatest treasures.”

A reception will be held from 4:00pm to 6:00pm on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St, Raleigh.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh is serving the Johnson family.