Samuel Atkins Johnson, Sr.
August 7, 1924 – January 1, 2025

Samuel Atkins Johnson, Sr., 100, of Raleigh, died on January 1 st , 2025, at the Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro, N.C. Sam was born in Pitt County but spent most of his life in Raleigh. He was the eleventh child of twelve born to the late James Archie Johnson and Mary Gaston Atkins Johnson on August 7, 1924. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents and ten siblings (Georgie Leggett; Neil Atkins Johnson; Alene Wiggins; James Archie Johnson, Jr.; Mary Stewart Gillis; Tapley Ormond Johnson; Polly Parris; Lillian Beatrice Johnson; John 'Jack'
Lewis Johnson; & William Hubert Johnson).

Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife of 76 sweet and beautiful years, Wiloree Woody Johnson; son, Samuel A. Johnson, Jr.; daughters, Gail Gunnells (Butch), Mary Brown (Jerry), all of Raleigh, and Sharon O'Donnell of Cary; 8 grandchildren -- Justin Brown, Kristin Brown Wooten (David), Jacob Gunnells (Carie), Sam Gunnells, Matthew Gunnells (Taylor), William O'Donnell (Amelia), David O'Donnell (Claire) & Jason O'Donnell; five great grandchildren, Kylie Wooten, Luke Wooten, Grayson Gunnells, Graham Gunnells & Rutledge Gunnells; his younger brother, Benjamin A. Johnson (Nancy); and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Sam grew up in Raleigh with his large family, and as a teen, drove a school bus route to Cary High School until they moved downtown where he graduated from Hugh Morson High. Immediately after high school graduation, Sam joined the Army Air Corp (an early division of the Air Force) and went to basic training in Arkansas and Oklahoma; he was a bombardier/navigator & completed his training the very week the nuclear bomb was dropped. He later served in the Air Force Reserves.

He met the love of his life, Wiloree Woody, in 1946, when he was introduced to her by a mutual friend outside the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop in Raleigh. They got married on September 15, 1948. Sam was a proud and loyal graduate of North Carolina State University, Class of 1949,
receiving a mechanical engineering degree. He went to work with his dad in his dad's business, Archie Johnson & Sons Sewing Machine Repair and Sales. He actually began helping his father, Archie, in the business when Sam was only 12 and his salesman dad discovered that Sam had a mechanical know-how and could repair machines even adults couldn't. Soon after his college graduation, Sam received a job opportunity in Tennessee, so he, his wife, and baby son moved to Chattanooga; but, they missed their families and their families missed them – and the sewing machine shop needed Sam. So, they moved back to Raleigh and never left again, building a home that was incredibly special, loving, and was a blessing to family and friends.

For over 70 years, Sam operated Archie Johnson & Sons Sewing Machines, a small cinderblock building on Lake Wheeler Road that offered the best in expert sewing machine repair. Sam and his dad ran this business along with Sam's brother Bill for decades. There was a popular ad for the business that ran in The News & Observer in the 1960s and early '70s, in which Archie introduced his son with the line, "This is my son, Sam, and he says . . .", after which, Sam would write a paragraph about community things like Little League baseball, world events, or holidays and somehow tie them all into a few words about sewing machine deals. This was a very iconic ad, and a Charlotte newspaper columnist once wrote about the pride that was instilled in that "my son, Sam' line. After his father's death in 1973, Sam continued the ad with simply, "This is Sam, and he says . . .". Sam still worked at the shop into his 90s, along with his son Sam, Jr. and daughter Mary who continued to operate the shop until 2021.

In 1985, Sam invented the Johnson Ruffling Machine, after a customer came to him in tears because she had to make some ruffled curtains that were popular in the '80s, but she wasn't able to quickly and efficiently complete them. Sam got a patent on the machine and sold them all over
the nation for decades. Sam was known in the Raleigh area as 'the sewing machine man', prompting articles about him in The News & Observer and Walter Magazine and feature stories on local TV news shows.

He and his wife were devoted members of St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church for over 70 years (from when it was known as Buffaloe Vanguard Church) until the church closed its doors in April of 2019. Sam loved the church and its people, serving in many roles there including Trustee, Session member, and Sunday School teacher. In the summer of 2010, he was selected as an Elder Emeritus. He was a man of faith who believed in Jesus Christ and who shared his faith with others by example more than words. Sam was also a member of the South Raleigh Civitans for over 60 years, serving as President and in other leadership roles.

Sam's high school senior yearbook listed one of his interests as 'film', and he did indeed love taking films & videos throughout the years. He documented many family and church events with his 8 mm movie camera and then later, with his ever-present video camera that he held on his shoulder. From babies' first steps to church family night suppers to family reunions to Christmas mornings – and even routine moments that have become priceless -- Sam and his camera were there. What a treasure-trove of memories he left for us all! Watching home movies was always a favorite pastime of his family ("Show us a film, Uncle Sam!").

He was a kind, gentle, and positive person who enjoyed making people laugh. He was well- known for his sense of humor, always ready with a clever comment or joke or narration of some of his videos. Count yourself blessed if you ever sat at the kitchen table when he shared one of
his "When I was a boy growing up in rural Wake County" stories filled with many shenanigans of he and his brothers.

He was an amazing and caring husband to Wiloree for over 76 years. Their love for each other was an inspiration to all who knew them. They grew old together, and there is nothing more touching than seeing them, both at age 100, sometimes holding hands as they said good-night.

As a father, he was much more than a provider and disciplinarian; he was patient, loving, fair, and funny. He was a role model of what a person should be, and his children adored him. He helped them with their math homework and took kittens and puppies to school for Show & Tell in his children's classes. He carried them to bed on his strong shoulders when they'd fall asleep in the living room. He was known for making his delicious chocolate fudge and sometimes he'd make gravy for Sunday dinners after church, after which he'd take the family out 'riding' through the community in his station wagon. He was "Daddy" to his kids and always will be. As a grandfather, he demonstrated these same qualities, and he was so proud of each of his grandchildren & great-grandchildren, and they, of him. There is film or video footage of each of his grandchildren soon after they were born because "Granddaddy" was there to take it, grinning from ear to ear.

Sam was also a wonderful brother to his 11 siblings; for his brother, Bill, he was literally his brother's keeper for much of Bill's adult life. After Bill came home from Italy in WWII with PTSD (called a 'nervous condition' at the time), Bill could no longer function in society and
basically stayed at home or in the sewing machine shop. From the late 1960s until Bill's death in 2011, Sam and Wiloree looked after him. The commitment Sam showed to Bill was unbelievable, demonstrating a deep brotherly love.

Even when Sam became affected by dementia, he was positive and always responded "fairly well" when someone asked how he was doing. And his face always lit up when someone mentioned "ice cream." All of his life, he loved the simple things in life and was content sitting in his living room chair watching TV or reading, working at the shop, cheering on the Wolfpack, being active in his church and community, and being surrounded by his family. We will all miss him so very much but are so thankful for having him as part of our lives for so many years.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 on Wednesday, January 8th at the Montlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 2911 S Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC. Before the service there will be a visitation at 12 noon. In addition, there will be a reception after the service. Memorial contributions may be made to: Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Park Ct., Goldsboro, NC 27534 - donations can be made on-line also at https://www.3hc.org/donate-now/ Just select Askins in the donation scroll. Or to Transitions Lifecare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607or on-line at https://www.transitionslifecare.org/donate/