Albert Richard Johnson Jr.

Albert Richard Johnson, Jr. passed away peacefully on October 28, 2025. He was born on March 14, 1943 in Lewes, Delaware at Bebe Hospital and later moved with his mother to Long Island, NY and Aliquippa, PA (outside of Pittsburgh) where he graduated from Aliquippa High School. He went to work at Beth Israel Hospital in Passaic, New Jersey and the Henlopen Hotel in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware where he met the love of his life Elizabeth Smith.

Al and Liz took the opportunity to move to Williamsburg, VA when Colonial Williamsburg sent recruiters to the Henlopen Hotel looking for employees to work for Colonial Williamsburg. They started at the Williamsburg Lodge and because of his strong leadership, he was immediately promoted to Head Banquet Captain and a year later promoted to Assistant Manager of the Williamsburg Lodge. A few years later he was promoted to Manager of The Cascades Restaurant of Colonial Williamsburg in 1970. He was recruited by Kingsmill on the James in 1979 as the Food & Beverage Manager. He would work there for 9 years and then he decided to open his own restaurant named Sakura Japanese Steak and Seafood Restaurant in the Historic Triangle Area. He was open for 15 years and served many people and celebrities; and hosted a campaign for Douglas Wilder who was running for Governor, and a local campaign for Gilbert Granger. After the restaurant closed 15 years later, he began working as a Food & Beverage Manager at Chambrel/Brookdale Senior Living.

Al was a visionary and leader—his dreams came to life. He was Founder and Developer of Brook Haven Subdivision, in which he purchased 40 acres of land in Williamsburg, VA in 1969. He had numerous distinguished careers and received letters, certificates and awards including: The White House Letter of Gratitude for helping President Lyndon B. Johnson and family on their first visit to Williamsburg in 1967, The National Restaurant Association Award in 1971, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from the College of William & Mary. He served on the Board of Directors for Williamsburg/JCC Courts (CASA), Williamsburg JCC Chamber of Commerce, Historic Triangle Community Board, Williamsburg Hospices Board, Williamsburg Regional Library Foundation, and JCC Land Conservancy Board. He was a board member of the Williamsburg Area Tourism & Conference Bureau, a Founder and Organizer of the first United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Williamsburg Chapter and the Founder of The First African/American Expo Celebration in Williamsburg in 1991. He hosted 3 more Expo events at The Historic Triangle on Prince George Street.

He gave an Oral History for the Williamsburg Documentary Project at the College of William & Mary for the Triangle Area. He was asked to go to various JCC schools during Black History Month to speak to the students. He received the Chambrel at Williamsburg Exceptional Cabinet Member Award, Brook Haven Founders Day Award in 2022. He catered events for Hampton University & College of William & Mary.

Al and Liz had a passion for traveling—sometimes giving her only a moments notice to travel to various places including Canada, Hawaii, Jamaica, Palm Spring, CA, Las Vegas, NV, The World's Fair and many places in the U.S. Al love to cook creating his own recipes especially for Thanksgiving (never the traditional meal) which would often consist of Lobster Bisque, Chateaubriand and Pork Crown Roast. His hobbies included music, singing and dancing, fishing, bowling, building computers and taking family photos, especially on family vacations each year. He learned carpentry from his Father who was a Homebuilder and Restaurant owner of Mabel's Inn Rehoboth Hwy Lewes, DE. He designed the interior layout of his new home and the interior at Sakura Japanese Steak and Seafood Restaurant.

Albert Richard Johnson, Jr. was preceded in death by his Father the late Albert Richard Johnson, Sr. of Lewes, DE, a descendant of the Nanticoke Indian Tribe of DE and African descent and his Mother, the late Georgiana Howard Johnson (Greenport) Long Island, NY, a descendant of the Shinnecock, Cherokee, Poospatuck Indians and African descent. His best childhood friend Harvey Carroll and partner of Sakura Japanese Steak & Seafood Restaurant.

Remaining to cherish his memory is his loving Wife, Elizabeth Smith Johnson; Sons, Albert Richard Johnson III (Cheryl), Mark Albert Johnson; Daughter, Tahitia Ann Johnson; Grandchildren, Mikhail Elizabeth Johnson, Michelle Min Johnson, Albert Richard Johnson IV (Jae Linn), Gerry Lee Turner, William Edward Johnson (Catherine), Richard Albert Branscomb; Great-Grandchildren, Ku’Raun Patterson Turner, Ava Marie Elizabeth Johnson, Caleb Francis Johnson, Lucas Albert Johnson; Great-Great-Grandson, Albert Richard Johnson V.; Cousins, Douglas and Lawrence Toliver; and many Relatives, Cousins and Friends.

The family would like to thank his Classmate Berlin Young, also his friend Wilbert Jones for his dedication in helping Al with developing Brook Haven and for being good friends over the years, along with Gentiva Hospices Care for their excellent Nursing Care Staff since March 2024.

A visitation will be held at Nelsen Funeral Home, located at 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg, VA 23188, on November 15, 2025, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.

The funeral service will follow at the same location, starting at 12:00 pm.