Anthony Eugene Johnson

Anthony Eugene Johnson, Jr.  was born on January 15, 1964. He departed this life too soon on May 25, 2023.


Anthony was son to Eugene and Lula Johnson. He grew up in Morristown, New Jersey, and graduated from Morristown High School. Anthony will be remembered for his youth football days, his infectious laughter, and the ability to make everyone around him laugh.

In his twenties, Anthony and the family relocated to Cary, North Carolina, where he spent the rest of his life. In Cary, he was employed at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and International Minute Press. He was an avid New York Giants fan, classic car enthusiast (particularly the 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham), and he enjoyed classic R&B music, especially Marvin Gaye.

Anthony was preceded in death by his parents, Lula and Eugene Johnson, and younger brother Alan Johnson. Anthony leaves to mourn his partner in life Mary Ransom (Southaven, Mississippi), sister, Jeanie Gillespie, (Commerce, Georgia), one brother and sis-in-law, Alex & Dedra Johnson Flanders, (New Jersey). Nephews, Terrell and Tyler Johnson and niece, Kayla Johnson.   Anthony also leaves to mourn an aunt, his extended Ransom family, and a host of cousins and friends.

Throughout Anthony's life,  he faced many challenges with resiliency. Life did not keep him down. He was not boring in any way and one of the most interesting people you would ever meet. Anthony had a great character and humorous personality. He had many hobbies and enjoyed doing all kinds of work using his hands, including: sheet rock, mechanic printing, and many others. Anthony thought of himself as a jack of all trades. Anthony felt he knew something about everything and certainly had an opinion on everything, never being one to back down from a healthy debate or lively discussion. Being on the opposite side of his opinion, you would also know, or soon find out, that he was never wrong. It was difficult not to walk away from an interaction with him and not be affected by his presence in some way. Anthony loved his close friends and family hard and was very protective of them. He had a big heart and forgave easily. Anthony was a believer because his mother instilled in him, that foundation, requiring of him to attend church. If you were blessed enough to meet him, you probably would have a story or two-to tell. Whether you came to know him as "Anthony", "Ant", "Andy", or “Antshaft". I am certain you would agree that he was truly one of a kind. It will be hard to forget his companionship, spirit, or his smile.

Anthony will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.  Anthony wished, his final resting place, to be in Toccoa, Georgia, together with his parents and brother. A memorial celebration will be held at a later date.