Obituary of William Batt Johnson

William Batt Johnson passed away peacefully March 27 at Baptist Hospital in Columbia with his family by his side. Born September 30, 1940, in Millen, Ga., Mr. Johnson was the son of the late Ivy and Janie Johnson. One of six children and a graduate of Jenkins County High School, he served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps before moving to West Columbia and joining the United States Postal Service, where he worked for 27 years before retiring. Mr. Johnson spent his retirement watching his children's baseball and softball games, chaperoning field trips, serving on mission trips to Appalachia and Boston, cooking for family get togethers, and helping care for his wife's parents. He was a long-time member of Northside Baptist Church in West Columbia and recently attended Springdale Baptist. Mr. Johnson is survived by his bride of 49 years, Agnes Johnson; his son, William Batt (Jay) Johnson Jr. of West Columbia; his daughter, Angela Johnson, and her husband, Ryan Johnson, of Mount Pleasant, S.C., and two grandchildren, Pace Wellen Johnson and Miles Liam Johnson. He also is survived by three sisters, Catherine Burke, Mary Trosi, and Sybil Gay; in-laws, Thelma and Steve Haley, David Pace and Marsha Rhea, and Paula Johnson; aunts, Allene Hatfield and Argyle Pace; uncle, Wallace Jones; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to his parents, Mr. Johnson was predeceased by a sister who died at birth; a brother, Billy Johnson; and his wife's parents, Richard and Willie Mae Pace. The family will receive friends on Monday, March 30, 2015 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Thompson Funeral Home in Lexington. Funeral services will be at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at Thompson Funeral Home in Lexington, with interment to follow at Woodridge Memorial Cemetery in Lexington. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Appalachia and Chile Mission Fund at Northside Baptist Church,, 4347 Sunset Blvd., Lexington, S.C. 29072; or to the Haiti Mission Fund at Springdale Baptist Church, 357 Wattling Road, West Columbia S.C. 29170. Friends and family may sign the online guest book at www.thompsonsfuneral.com.