Johnny J. Lundy, 92, born in Emporia, Virginia in 1926, passed away peacefully at his home in Suffolk, Virginia on Saturday, May 12, 2018. He was indeed a loving father, uncle, grandad and friend to many people. “Uncle Johnny”, as many called him, had a great deal of influence on people that he touched during his life, including the young people he touched while living in Newnan, Georgia before returning to Virginia in November 2017. Dad Johnny had a saying that we shouldn’t worry about things over which we have no influence or that we could do nothing about. He would say, “trust the Father”. He loved his music, especially Jazz listening to his favorites like Tanya by Dexter Gordon, Take Five by Dave Brubeck, Songs for my Father by Horace Silver as well as songs from Art Blakely and the Jazz Messengers.
As a young man, Johnny moved from Emporia, Virginia to Portsmouth where he worked at the naval shipyard. He was an excellent tap dancer and spent many of his weekends entertaining soldiers. While in Portsmouth, he married Annie Gray (deceased) where the twins Albert and Allen were born. Later, Johnny moved to New York where he was employed by General Motors 36 years and then retired. During his tenure in New York, he also drove taxi cabs on a part time basis. One of his nephews, Andre, had this to say about him:
“I used to tell my Uncle Johnny he was the “oldest” person I knew. He was 92 years young. He would comment and share my FB posts, just like all my “younger” friends and family. He loved boxing because he used to box, himself. He loved driving because he used to drive a cab back in da day. In the 80’s, when we lived in the Bronx, he used to drive a black van. The back windows were custom-made into the shape of a star. Every time I rode the jibsy cab or the city bus by that tall, yellow apartment building on Story Avenue & Metcalf Avenue, I would always look for Uncle Johnny’s van. All I had to do was look for the STAR Windows. Job well done, Uncle Johnny Lundy. May your STAR shine bright on us from heaven” (Nephew Andre)
After his General Motors retirement, he moved back to Virginia for a few years, then to Newnan, Georgia and finally back to Virginia November 2017, his last stop before God called him home. Dad Johnny was preceded in death by his son, Albert Lundy, seven brothers, and eight sisters. Left to cherish his memory: his loving wife, Barbara A. Lundy; son, Allen Lundy (Selena), daughter, Keisha Pratt, and a sister, Lizzie Moore; grandchildren: Donnell Lomax, Todd Lomax (Angela), Allysun Lundy, Antonio Lundy (Iris), Aaron Lundy, Christopher Lundy (Cassie), Gregory Lundy, Janina Lundy, Johnny Lundy (Alysia), Rhonda Lundy, daughter-in-law Youree Lundy (wife of Albert Lundy), Aryanna Morris, Tauren Morris, Yolanda Woods (Yosef); 16 great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
