Jeff Johnson
Jeffery Blake Johnson took his final checkered flag on Wednesday April 22, 2022, at 3:19 am at Transitions LifeCare in Raleigh, North Carolina after a heroic two-year battle against pancreatic cancer. Jeff was preceded in death by his father, Johnny Vance Johnson, his mother Wilma Rose Morgan Johnson Honeycutt and his stepfather Wallace Honeycutt. He is survived by his loving wife, Tiffany Gori Johnson, who was an amazing advocate and caregiver during his illness, daughters Elizabeth “Kat” and Emma as well as his son Ethan. Jeff has two sisters and several nieces and nephews.
Jeff was born in Apex, North Carolina on August 19, 1960, to Johnny and Wilma Johnson and from a young age was passionate about cars. After serving on the Apex Rescue Squad for many years, Jeff started to work as a mechanic at several gas stations and shops in the area. With his mechanic experience and entrepreneurial spirit, he opened Cary Auto Service in which he operated for many years. His final mechanic job was at Southern Wake Automotive which he owned with two great friends.
Being a car guy and a mechanic, it was only natural Jeff was passionate about stock car racing. Early in his racing career he helped crew a car in the ARCA series that won at Daytona in 1985. That fueled his passion even more and he started his own race team and raced in virtually every class throughout the state on both dirt and asphalt. When he decided to stop driving, he didn’t leave the sport. Jeff owned cars and would have local drivers wheel the car while he maintained and served as crew chief. Jeff’s teams enjoyed much success over the years as they won five track championships at Wake County Speedway and had many top 3 finishes and victories at other tracks in the area. When Jeff and Tiffany’s son Ethan was seven years old, they put him in a Bandolero car which he ran for many years with much success. Ethan now runs a Limited Late Model at Wake County Speedway and is following in the footsteps of his dad.
At the track and in life Jeff was always willing to help others and expect nothing in return. At the track, he would lend a hand, a part or his knowledge. In his everyday life, all you had to do was call and he was there to help. The only thing Jeff loved more than racing was his wife Tiffany and his kids Kat, Emma and Ethan. He was so proud of the work Tiffany does as a nurse and mother and was excited and hopeful for the future of his three kids.
If Jeff ever helped you or positively impacted your life, live his legacy and honor him by paying that forward to others, and think of him when you do.
The funeral for Jeff will be held at the Apex Baptist Church at 110 S. Salem Street in Apex starting at 2:00 pm. Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm also at Apex Baptist Church. Instead of flowers, the family has asked that you make a donation towards the kid's college funds so they may finish what they have started. Ethan plans to finish his welding degree and then complete another two years at Central Carolina Community College in graphic design and Emma will finish her final two years at Meredith College studying communications and musical theatre. You may also make a contribution to a charity of your choice in honor of Jeff Johnson.