George Wilbur Johnson

Irmo - Dr. George Wilburn Johnson III, 69, died peacefully at home on June 8, 2015, after a brief battle with cancer. George is survived by his wife of 46 years, Marsha; daughters Emily Hynds (Keith), Birmingham, AL and Lydia Johnson Reynolds (Dana), Boston, MA; mother Helen Johnson, Chattanooga, TN; sister Carol Sharp (Paul), Dacula, GA; grandchildren Hannah and Joshua Hynds, and Daniel, Peter, and Jonathan Reynolds. He is preceded in death by his father Col. George Wilburn Johnson Jr., Waco, TX; sister Barbara Johnson, Chattanooga, TN. George graduated from McCallie High School and earned a bachelor's degree with a major in mathematics from Furman University. He earned his master's and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Tennessee. He taught at the University of South Carolina from 1972-2006, and upon retirement continued to teach mathematics through the CIU Prison Initiative. He was an avid runner and enjoyed singing with the Palmetto Master Singers. He faithfully served Cornerstone Presbyterian Church as an elder, teacher, and choir member. A celebration of his life is scheduled for 1:00pm on June 27th at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, 5637 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29212 with a reception to follow. The family asks that instead of flowers, donations be made to Cornerstone (5637 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29212) or CIU Prison Initiative (Contact (803) 807-5020, (800) 777-2227 (ext. 5020), or e-mail prisoned@ciu.edu).