Professor of English John Rochelle Lee Johnson Sr.

   Cause of his death was Coronary Thrombosis / Diabetes.

  General Notes:

The 1910 Federal Census for Southampton Co., Va. records John, Susie, and son John R. L. living on Clay Street in Franklin Township.

The 1920 Federal Census for Radford City, Va., District 17 records John R. Johnson (50-school teacher at the Normal School) with wife Susie R. (50) and sons John R. (13) and Robert B. (8) living on Fairfax Street.

The 1930 Federal Census for Williamsburg, Va. (James City Co.) records John R. L. Johnson (60) as a Professor of English probably at The College of William and Mary. John R. L., Susie R. (60), and Robb B. (18) are living on Chandlers Court.

Early in his career he was principal of Gordonsville, South Boston, Franklin (Town of), as well as Norton High Schools. From 1916 to 1928 he was Head of the English Department at Radford College. In 1928 he went to The College of William and Mary as Professor of English .

http://swem.wm.edu/beta/flathat/issues/fh19440329.pdf
The Flat Hat, College of William & Mary, March 29, 1944:
Prof Retires after 16 years
John Rochelle Lee Johnson, Professor of English, has retired from the College Faculty after teaching here for sixteen years. Before joining the faculty, Dr. Johnson had engaged in school work in Franklin, and had been Professor of English at Radford College. In these positions, he served the state for approximately forty years.
Dr. Johnson graduated fron the College of William & Mary with an A. B. degree, and later earned a graduate degree from the University of Chicago, under the tutealage of Cross, Ricket, Hulbert, and Manly. These two events mark his career.
He is pointed out as the typically loyal alumnus of the College, and his teaching combined knowledge of literature with love of language. His faithfulness to his college and his devotion to teaching will long be remembered by students and colleagues. The Flat Hat wishes him a rapid return to his customary health.


http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaschs/cemetery/southampton/pscanx2.pdf
Poplar Springs Cemetery - New Annex - City of Franklin
Beamon Street and High Street across form the Scout Shack
Plot107
JOHN R.L. JOHNSON
10-16-1869 - 04-23-1953
S/O ROBERT AND FRANCES VIRGINIA VAUGHAN JOHNSON

SUSAN RAWLS JOHNSON
01-17-1869 NANSEMOND CO.,VA - 01-25-1954 WILLIAMSBURG,VA..
D/O ROBERT AND DIANNA CUTCHIN RAWLS
MARRIED 09-07-1907 [1904] S-TN OBIT 01-28-1954


Below is a Feb. 18, 2004 email response from William and Mary about my inquiry on John R. L. Johnson:

Your request was forwarded to the University Archives for a reply. John Rochelle Lee Johnson attended William and Mary from 1889-1894 and received an AB degree. He was a Professor of English here from 1928-1944 and then Professor Emeritus from January 28, 1944 until his death on April 23, 1953.

Under his name in our card catalog I found that we have a number of items pertaining to him in the Archives. We have: an orator's medal awarded to him by the Philomathean Literary Society in 1892; two pictures of him (one is a black and white, 5" x 7 3/4" portrait and the other is a black and white, 10 1/2" x 14" print of contestants in a Virginia Oratorical contest at Washington and Lee University in 1894 where he was the William and Mary representative; he is mentioned on pages 25 and 26 of the oral history interview transcript of Alfred Armstrong who taught here from 1933 to 1976 and we have his diplomas both from William and Mary and the University of Chicago.

If you are able to make a visit here to Special Collections I would be happy to show these items to you. Our hours and a map to our location are on our web site.

Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

Gina
--
Gina C. Woodward
Archives Specialist, University Archives
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
P.O. Box 8794
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8794

  Medical Notes:

Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014
Name: John Rochell Lee Johnson (married)
Residence: 134 Jamestown Rd., Williamsburg, VA
Occupation: Retired Professor, College
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age at Death: 83
Birth Date: 16 Oct 1869 in South Quay, VA [Nansemond Co.]
Death Date: 23 Apr 1953
Death Place: Williamsburg, Virginia
Burial: April 25, 1953 in Franklin, VA
Registration Date: 27 Apr 1953
Father: Robert J Johnson
Mother: Virginia Frances Vaughn
Spouse: Susy Rawls
Informant: Mr. Robert Bruce Johnson of Williamsburg, VA

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Professor of English, William & Mary (1928-1944), Professor.

• Education: William & Mary AB 1894, University of Chicago.

John married Susie Rawls, daughter of Robert Rawls and Diana Cutchin, on 7 Sep 1904 in Nansemond Co, VA. (Susie Rawls was born on 17 Jan 1869 in Nansemond Co, VA, died on 25 Jan 1955 in Williamsburg, Virginia and was buried in Poplar Springs Cemetery - New Annex - City of Franklin.) The cause of her death was Pneumonia.

  Marriage Notes:

Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940
Name: John R. L. Johnson
Gender: Male
Age: 34
Birth Date: 1870
Marriage Date: 7 Sep 1904
Marriage Place: Nansemond County, Virginia
Father: Robert J. Johnson
Mother: Virginia F.
Spouse: Susie Rawls
FHL Film Number: 2048463