Harold G. Johnston

Harold G. Johnston

Principal and Teacher

Augusta, GA – Mr. Harold G. Johnston, 85, beloved husband of the late Winifred “Winkie” White Johnston, entered into rest and left this world to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Piedmont Hospital. He and Winifred “Winkie” White Johnston were married on June 4, 1966, in Fitzgerald, Georgia. For 59 years of marriage, they were inseparable until Winkie’s death on April 10, 2025. Harold was a loving, faithful and devoted husband to Winkie.

Harold, a native of Augusta, was born on December 17, 1940, and graduated from Richmond Academy in the class of 1960. As a youngster, he developed Rheumatic Fever and was held out of school for over a year. He attended two years at Augusta College, Georgia Southern College, where he received his B.S. degree and later his Ed. Specialists degree. He later attended the University of Georgia, where he received his Masters degree in Mathematics Education and School Administration. Mr. Johnston met his future wife, Winkie, of Fitzgerlad, Georgia, in a history class at Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, Georgia, when she lent him a book. He served as a mathematics teacher at Butler High School for six years, from 1964 to 1969, and as principal for 26 years at Perrin, Fleming, Wheeless Road, and A. Brian Merry Elementary Schools. He retired in 1996 after serving 32 years with the Richmond County Board of Education.

Mr. Johnston’s parents were George D. Johnston Sr., of Waynesboro, and Sara Frances Turner Johnston McNeal, of Blythe. His brothers were the late George D. “Stretch” Johnston, who worked at Kendrick’s Paint and Body Shop, and the late Frank C. Johnston, who retired from the Navy. His sister was Betty Ann Johnston Murphy, a nurse.

Harold was predeceased by his wife, Winifred “Winkie” White Johnston, and his daughter, Eunice Ann Johnston. He is survived by his son, Harold G. “Hal” Johnston, Jr.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude for the loving care given to Mr. Johnston over the past few years by his sitters, Lisa Gandy, Jacquina Thomas, Sophia Vickers and Renee Toure. They are also thankful for the dedicated team at Brandon Wilde in Evans, Georgia.

Mr. Johnston was a member of John S. Davidson Masonic Lodge, a member and past president of the local Education Association, a member of the Georgia Education Association, a life member of the National Education Association, and a member of “AMBUCS,” American Business Clubs. He was a founding member and president of the CSRA Phi Delta Kappa, Augusta State University, and state president of the Georgia Society of Archaeology, University of Georgia, where President Jimmy Carter was a long-time member. He was a member of the Augusta Society of Genealogy and did much family history research.

Harold loved to travel with his wife. Harold and Winkie visited all fifty states and many countries, including England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, and Israel. Harold and Winkie shared historical, biblical and contemporary information as well as their personal insights, photos and observations from their Israel travel adventures in their book, Israel: Walking in Holy Footsteps, published by Xulon Press in 2016.

Harold was a member of Lakemont Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church in America-PCA, where he joined in 1968, and attended First Baptist Church Augusta later in life. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” – Philippians 1:21. Death is a great loss to a carnal and worldly man, for he loses all his earthly comforts and all his hopes; but to a true believer it is gain, for it is the end of all his weakness and misery. It delivers him from all the evils of life, and brings him to possess the chief good.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., in the Chapel of Thomas Poteet & Sons with Dr. Will Dyer officiating. Interment will follow in Westover Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, one hour prior to the service, at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Home, 214 Davis Road, Augusta, Georgia 30907, (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com.

If so desired, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Augusta, 3500 Walton Way Extension, Augusta, Georgia 30909, or Lakemont Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church in America, 411 Pleasant Home Road, Augusta, Georgia 30907.