James William Johnson, Jr.

James William Johnson, Jr., 56, of 208 York Street, Clinton died Sunday in Greenville Memorial Hospital. He was born in Clinton, SC, and was the son of predeceased James William Johnson and surviving mother Grace Nickles Johnson.
He was the Resident Circuit Judge for the Eighth Judicial Circuit of South Carolina. While serving as a judge, he also held the positions of Chairman of the Commission on Judicial Conduct, Chairman of the South Carolina Circuit Court Judges Association, Chairman of the Circuit Judges Advisory Committee, and served on the Judicial Counsel of South Carolina.
In 1976, his career as an attorney began in the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. In 1981, he moved to Clinton and began private practice. While practicing as an attorney, he was elected into the South Carolina House of Representatives. He served from 1984 through 1992. In 1992, he was elected as the Resident Circuit Judge for the Eighth Judicial Circuit of South Carolina.
At First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, he served as an active elder, a youth advisor, and chairman of various committees. In the community, he held leadership positions in a variety of organizations.
He is survived by his wife, Jean Mangum Johnson; two sons, Ryan William Johnson and wife, Alisha, and Austin Michael Johnson and wife, Livia; two daughters, Katherine Johnson Addison and husband, Thomas, and Elizabeth Leigh Johnson; one granddaughter, Katelin Grace Johnson; two sisters, Jane Johnson Edwards and Beth Johnson Cale.
A private graveside service will be held for the family at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15th. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Clinton at 3:00 p.m. The family will receive friends in the church Fellowship Hall immediately following the memorial service.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society in support of melanoma research or to the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.grayfuneralhome.com .
Gray Funeral Home of Clinton.