Hall Morrison "Morry" Johnston, Jr.
October 4th, 2025
CHARLOTTE – Hall Morrison Johnston Jr., born on November 12th, 1937, in Charlotte, NC, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family at home on October 4th, 2025. Known to everyone as Morry, he was a cornerstone of his family, the community, and a familiar, integral, and beloved presence to many. His simple, unforgettable greeting, "Hi, I'm Morry," resonated with everyone he met.
Morry was the third of five children born to Dorothy Gardner and Hall Morrison Johnston, Sr. He was a proud graduate of Myers Park High School and the University of North Carolina, where he earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees. In 1962, he received his Juris Doctor with Honors from the University of North Carolina Law School. Morry joined the firm that would eventually become Johnston Allison & Hord in 1966. For sixty years, he was renowned as one of North Carolina's most respected, trusted, and capable lawyers, expertly guiding large family businesses and contributing significantly to the region's corporate legal landscape.
A masterful problem solver, Morry was inevitably the first call that businesses, friends, family, and acquaintances made when they were in need of advice. Helping people and businesses arrive at successful outcomes was his calling card. His genuine approach of allowing people to feel seen and heard was his superpower. He will be remembered as an influential role model both personally and professionally, having mentored, advised, counseled, and befriended so many people.
Morry contributed his wisdom and expertise to numerous organizations, including UMAR Services, where he was Chairman of the Board, Presbyterian Hospital, and Charlotte County Club, where he served on the Board of Governors. He was a member of the Piedmont Club of Charlotte, the RODS Golf Club (Royal Order of the Dew Sweepers), and TESNUS. And he was a member of Myers Park Presbyterian Church.
Morry was an early practitioner of work-life balance, which allowed him to pursue his hobbies of fishing, hunting, and golfing while enjoying sacred family time at “the farm” and “the inlet”. He always said, “There is no outlet like the inlet”. At these treasured places, he taught his children and grandchildren life’s important lessons and imparted words of wisdom like “nothing good ever happens in reverse”.
At age 77, he did back flips off a rope swing on the Waccamaw River, and at 87, he played flag football with his family at the farm. There was seemingly nothing Morry couldn’t do or couldn’t fix (as long as there was enough duct tape around).
Morry is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Zeke Johnston and John Johnston.
He is survived by the mother of his children, Elizabeth Glasgow Johnston, their children, Hall Johnston (Rhonda), Kenna Johnston, Natalie Johnston Greenberg (Hank), and Morry’s grandchildren, Brannon Johnston, Alec Greenberg, Hayes Greenberg, and Avery Greenberg. He is also survived by his loving wife of thirty years, Ginny, and her children, Krissa Gaston (Glenn), and Mollie Patterson, and Ginny’s grandchildren, McLean Gaston, Myers Gaston, Virginia Gaston, and Charlotte Patterson. Additionally, Morry is survived by his sisters, Jenny Singleton (Rudy), Beegie Caviness, and sister-in-law, Laurie Johnston.
To the end, Morry encouraged everyone he met and reminded us that “life is not a spectator sport”.
A celebration of life service will take place at Myers Park Presbyterian on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations in Morry’s memory may be made to Monarch / UMAR Legacy Fund, 350 Peedee Avenue, Suite 101, Albemarle, NC 28001. https://www.MonarchNC.org/donate
Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28204 (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.
Comments
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Morry was a great friend and mentor through my legal career. My fondest memory of Morry’s great talent for outside the box problem solving was when he and I represented opposing relatives in a contentious estate proceeding. It was Christmas Eve and Morry called me first thing in the morning to say that we had to get together today to work out a settlement. I told him that his timing was bad since I had 8 people coming to dinner and had not planned to work that day. He said: “…it has to be today.” “Go do your grocery shopping and I will meet you at your office at noon.” So, he appeared at my office at noon and sat patiently in our conference room while I typed out a settlement document on the computer. We both managed to reach our clients, and after a few adjustments, they were only too happy to bless the deal and authorized us both to sign. I was back home by 4 and cooking dinner. Morry was right, it was the perfect time to settle what had been a bitter family dispute. Everyone had a most Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Morry, for your wisdom and good humor. You are certainly missed by many – including me. -
I am just learning of Morry's passing and am truly sorry. For 7 years I sat at the desk across from Morry's office and often heard his laugh. Morry was wise, always upbeat and a joy to work with. May God comfort you and give you strength now and in the days to come.
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He was always Mr. Johnston to me who cut the grass at their home on Cloverfield Road when I was in high school. He was a father figure and taught me power tool use in his backyard shed which I helped build (a little bit), gave me girl advice, and let me ride his Yamaha 175 around the yard and out at the farm. He was a very positive influence on my young self. A good man!
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Myself and Camden Country will miss Morry. It was a pleasure to have him at the club and I am thinking about him and the family. God Bless.
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I knew Morry loved me from an early age. Today I know where the word delightful and appreciated originated in my life. His name makes me SMILE inside and out. My Dad, Tommy Miller loved Morry, he was always a part of our family. I know there is laughter in heaven.
GOD bless you all and give you peace.
That SMILE!!! Rest in peace Morry. Love, Peggy -
Morry was my friend, boss and family. He was like no other. He showed me so much. He always made me smile and treated my hole family like family. He is the only person I can honestly say excepted people for who they were and just wanted to see people smile.
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Dear Jenny, B. G., Natalie and Kenna,
When I came to see Morry at The Inlet and brought some peaches, and then he came to the house to thank me, I did not know he was so sick as we had a good visit that seemed "normal". It seems I have known all of you all of my life from the Dr. Locke days until now. All of you have been such an important part of my life here at Murrells Inlet and Myers Park High School. Once he turned my boat over that we had a good laugh about a few years ago. I will miss Morry and all those memories. Know that all of you are in my prayers.
David -
When George and I had the Law Building Coffe Shop, we would always see Morry with a big smile on his face. Ginny, when someone you love becomes a memory, the memlory becomes a treasure. May he rest in peace.
Dianne -
Morry was a wonderful neighbor and friend and a "True Gentleman"! I always enjoyed seeing Morry in the early mornings while walking his dog and bringing all of his neighbors' morning news papers from the end of their driveway to their front porch...Always with a Huge Smile and an Encouraging word.. Morry made me smile and made my day..God Bless Morry and his Family and Friends !!!
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Uncle Morry - the warmth you showed my family over the years always stayed with me, whether it was a shared Diet Coke at 7am from a Red Eye flight into Charlotte or teaching my wife how to shoot skeet down on the farm. You were larger than life and such a calming influence in our collective crazy lives. Rest in Peace Uncle Morry you will be missed!
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