Staff reportFuneral services are scheduled today for Jimmy Johnson, the retired Hendrick Motorsports executive who brought high-end gated developments to western Rowan County.
Johnson, 61, died Friday.
A former general manager and vice president of the Charlotte-based motorsports company, Johnson bought nearly 100 acres of land from Edgar Teeter on London Road and created Teeter Farms.
First-responders from West Rowan Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call at Johnson’s home Feb. 18. Fire Chief John Morrison said it was apparent that Johnson had suffered a stroke or had some other serious medical problem.
Rowan County Emergency Medical Services transported Johnson to Lake Norman Regional Medical Center.
He was later transferred to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, where he died Friday.
Johnson, who had lived in a lakefront home on Lake Norman, had grown tired of the noise and traffic. He opted for the rural, quiet life near Mount Ulla.
His entry into west Rowan caused a minor uproar. Initially, he opposed plans by members the McLaughlin family to build a country store on N.C. 150 to provide a retail outlet for their product.
Johnson quickly dropped his opposition and residents of Teeter Farms are now frequent customers at the business.
Bill McLaughlin said Monday that friends and family have been gathering at the Teeter Farms home. The McLaughlins joined others in the community in taking food and expressing their sympathy.
A native of Fayetteville, Johnson is credited with helping turn Hendrick Motorsports into a major force in NASCAR with four teams. During his 16 years, the company grew from around 40 employees to 400.
Johnson teamed with Ricky Hendrick for the Teeter Farms development. Ricky Hendrick died in a plane crash near Martinsville, Va., in October 2004, along with nine others.
Johnson is survived by his wife, Priscilla, and sons Jamie, Ryan and Dustin.
Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Williamson’s Chapel United Methodist Church. Burial will be private.
Cavin-Cook Funeral Home of Mooresville is handling arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 6000 Fairview Road, Suite 200, Charlotte, N.C. 28210, or to Victory Junction Gang Camp, 4500 Adam’s Way, Randleman, N.C. 27317.