President Cheryl Evans Jones and the Paine College Family join the Augusta, Georgia community in mourning the passing of beloved alumnus Mr. Ellis Marvin Johnson '61 who departed this life on Wednesday, January 15, 2020. The memorial service for Mr. Johnson will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 12 noon in the Gilbert-Lambuth Memorial Chapel on the campus of Paine College.

A loyal son of Paine College, Mr. Johnson dedicated his life to music and the arts having served as an accomplished tenor, teacher, pianist, organist, and as an advocate and supporter of Paine until his passing.

Mr. Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Paine College and a Master of Science in Guidance and Counseling from Ft. Valley State University. Also, he received a Certification in Education from Augusta State University.

In his professional career, Mr. Johnson was a Richmond Academy faculty member, a Department of Guidance of the Richmond County Board of Education consultant, and the Director of Counseling Services at Aiken Technical College.

Mr. Johnson and his late wife Ann Nealous Johnson were staunch supporters of the arts. He served as the director of the Augusta Chorale and coordinated the Choral Artists Series for the first Westobou Festival. Most recently, he led the campaign to restore the Pipe Organ in the Paine College Gilbert-Lambuth Memorial Chapel. The campaign is ongoing having raised over $120,000.00 since its inception in June 2019. In February 2019, Paine College unveiled the Ellis M. and Ann N. Johnson Performing Arts Studio located inside the Chapel where the couple was married over fifty years ago.

"The Paine College family is deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Ellis Johnson," said President Jones. "His dedication to Paine was profound and his tireless support will have a lasting impact on our Institution.

"The family asks that donations be made in honor of Mr. Johnson's memory and legacy to any of the following organizations.

- Paine College, 1235 Fifteenth Street, Augusta, GA 30901

- Jessye Norman School of the Arts, 739 Greene Street, Augusta, GA 30901

- Project BUILD, Alpha Mu Boule (mentoring program), P.O. Box 31376, Augusta, GA 30903

- Elim Baptist Church Transportation Fund, 2359 Mt. Auburn Street, Augusta, GA 30904