Melvin Earl Johnson was born in Winston-Salem, NC on September 23, 1925 to Annie and Manuel Johnson, Sr. He departed this earthly life on May 7, 2014 at his residence. He attended the W-S/FCS and was a graduate of Atkins High School.

Following high school, Melvin joined the Marine Corps, where he fought in WWII. After the war, Mr. Johnson returned to W-S where he was the proprietor of Melvin's Grill. Aside from his culinary pursuits, Melvin built a career at RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. that spanned over 3 decades until his retirement.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents; siblings; son, Victor Kim Johnson; and his wife of 52 years, Elva Watts Johnson.

Left to cherish his memory are a devoted "daughter-niece", Rosalyn P. Shelton of the home; son, Howard (Diane) Johnson of Clarksville, TN; daughter, Deborah "Becky" Johnson of Waldorf, MD; sister, Jean Johnson of New York; 2 great-nephews, Juleen (Carla) Parker and son, Juleen, Jr. of Fairfax, VA and Norman Shelton and daughter, Maia of Greensboro, NC; a loving great-niece, DanElysa Smith and her children, Jordan, Ameja, and Gregory "AJ" of Kernersville, NC; sister-in-law, Mable L. Johnson of Walkertown, NC; and a host of other family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2pm Wednesday, March 14, 2014 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. The family visitation will be held from 1pm until 2pm on Wednesday at the Chapel.
The family of Melvin E. Johnson wants to especially thank the management and staff of One Life at a Time, Dr. Anthony J. Kummer, Dr. Kenneth B. Rhinehart, and Dr. Ernest McPhail for all of your compassionate and competent care during his illness.