Johnson Battle, 78, of Portsmouth, went home to be his Lord and Savior on Monday, August 21, 2023, at Mt. Carmel East Hospital. He was born May 1, 1945, in Portsmouth, a son of the late Grady and Ollie Cora Layne Battle.
Johnson retired from Columbia Gas, where he worked many years as a welder. He was an AME minister who loved sharing God’s word and he was a very civic-minded person. He served as the 14th Street Community Center president for many years, and he was an Air Force Vietnam-era veteran. For his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and the Good Conduct Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. Johnson loved the outdoors, playing tennis and golf, and fishing and camping. He was an avid OSU Buckeye and PHS Trojan fan and he graduated from Portsmouth High in 1963.
Surviving is his daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen Nicole (Theodore) Battle Ceasar of Pickerington; a special son, Samuel Dwayne McKenzie of Columbus; two brothers, Grady L. Battle and Stephen (Gail) Battle, all of Portsmouth; two sisters, Lela (Joseph) Perry of Portsmouth, and Kathleen Battle of New York, NY; a granddaughter, Atarah Ceasar; and six special grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Saturday at Allen Chapel A.M.E Church with Rev. Dr. Mark K. Tyler officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the church. Interment will be in Scioto Burial Park with military honors by the James Dickey Post #23 American Legion.