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Lawrence Johnson, 108, Main Line chauffeur

Lawrence Johnson, 108, of Ardmore, a chauffeur, who was married to his wife for 79 years, died Tuesday, Feb. 2, at his home.

Lawrence Johnson
Lawrence JohnsonRead more

Lawrence Johnson, 108, of Ardmore, a chauffeur, who was married to his wife for 79 years, died Tuesday, Feb. 2, at his home.

"My father worked until he was 103 as a driver and chauffeur," son Albert said. "He had a lifelong love of cars. He saved up enough money working in a quarry in high school to buy a 1924 Ford Model T, his first car."

Born May 6, 1907, the fourth of 10 children of sharecroppers, Mr. Johnson spent his early life working on his parents' tobacco farm in Reidsville, N.C. His grandparents were emancipated slaves. His grandfather, born into slavery and emancipated at age 19, lived to 102.

He began driving as a chauffeur for descendants of David Reid, a governor of North Carolina in the 1850s. Mr. Johnson went north to the Philadelphia area on the advice of a cousin. He and his new wife, the former Minnie Drumwright, whom he had met at a church social and married in 1936, moved together to Ardmore the following year. In addition to his son, she survives him, at age 102.

Mr. Johnson began working for the radio manufacturer A. Atwater Kent and other families in the suburbs. The list of people he drove includes the television hosts Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas. His last employer was lawyer Barbara Waxler and her family.

"He managed to keep a driver's license until he was 104," his son said, adding that Mr. Johnson was "obsessed" with cars, especially his 1979 Cadillac, 1980 Lincoln, and 1992 Ford Crown Victoria, which "he polished until you could see your face in the hood."

At age 103, Mr. Johnson fell and broke a leg. "His greatest wish was to go to work and drive and work on his cars," said Albert Johnson. "He remained extremely sharp mentally."

Mr. Johnson's advice in old age was, "Keep moving."

Mr. Johnson was active in Bethel A.M.E. Church in Ardmore, and helped it rebuild after a fire in the 1970s.

A viewing will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, and 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, followed by a funeral service, at Bethel A.M.E. Church, 163 Sheldon Lane, Ardmore.

earvedlund@phillynews.com

215-854-2808 @erinarvedlund