Obituary of Michael Ray Johnston

Michael Ray Johnston, 64, of Charlotte, passed away peacefully Monday, February 22, 2021 with his family by his side. Born July 3, 1956 at Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte, North Carolina, he was the handsome son of Katie McAllister Sigmon and the late Raeford L. Johnston and won the Presbyterian Hospital Alumnae silver cup award at the age of 3.

Michael loved music and singing. Before he could crawl on the piano stool, he stood on the floor and "played" with one finger. He studied piano with Mrs. Neely and voice lessons with Harvey Woodruff. He had a wonderful tenor and counter-tenor voice and sang solos in the children's choir at Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church. He was selected for Governor's School of North Carolina by his high school chorus teacher, Michael Pittard, and went twice. At the age of 18, he was the youngest member to join the Covenant Presbyterian Church Adult Choir when Dr. Richard Peek was the minister of music and Dr. Douglas Oldenburg was the minister. After graduating from North Mecklenburg High School in 1974, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1978 from Mars Hill College and a Master of Music in Church Music in 1980 from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. For a week each summer, between 1971-1988, Michael attended and later was a faculty member of the Wildacres Music Camp (Little Switzerland, NC) that his voice teacher Harvey Woodruff had founded and directed.  After returning to Charlotte in 1982, he served for a year as children's choir and handbell director at First Presbyterian Church, Lexington, NC. Michael served as tenor section leader at four Charlotte churches: Covenant Presbyterian Church, St. John's Episcopal Church, Holy Comforter Episcopal Church and Christ Episcopal Church. He was employed by the Rasberry Insurance Agency for 20 years, where he developed their website and computer network.

Michael also enjoyed cooking (calling himself an amateur method cook), always using the freshest of ingredients. He composed choral (including a cantata for the chapel dedication at Wildacres), vocal, instrumental and organ music (including a triptych for the fresco dedication at St. Peter's Catholic Church/Charlotte.) He was a hard worker and he and his roommate, John Apple, joined together to start and develop an internet business in 2005 called Michael's Music Service to renew and republish old organ music. Overtime, Michael developed an essential tremor involving both hands, making it difficult to work on the computer, but he persevered and continued to work hard for many years following.

In addition to his mother, Katie, Michael is survived by his brother, Timothy Gray Johnston and his wife, Ronda; niece, Crystal Lynne Renegar and her husband, Jonathan; nephew, Steven Timothy Johnston; great niece, Victoria Anne Renegar; roommate and friend, John Apple; and many more loving family and friends.

Due to COVID restrictions, there will be a private celebration of life service Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at Covenant Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC: Virtual Service

A public graveside service will follow services at 3:30 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery and Mausoleum, 2858 NC-I50 Lincolnton, NC 28092.

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