Born in Tazewell, Virginia July 23, 1853
Died in Richmond, Virginia December 20, 1916∼When Doctor George Benjamin Johnston was buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia, a handful of clay from the grave of his mother, Mrs. Nicketti Floyd Johnston was mingled with that soil covering his own grave. It was in response to Doctor Johnston's particular request that Mr. John T. Graham of Wytheville send the clay from Mrs. Johnston's grave.

The Messenger, Beckley, West Virginia
Tuesday, December 19, 1916, page 10
Dr George Ben Johnson, a distinguished surgeon of Virginia and of national reputation, died at his home in Richmond, Va, Wednesday afternoon at 1 o'clock. Dr Johnson has been in declining health for the last three years and for the past six months he been confined to his home.
Dr Johnson was a native of Tazewell county, Virginia, having been born and reared at Tazewell court house, where he spent the early part of his life. He was a graduate of the University of Virginia and in 1887 graduated with honors from the New York Medical School. He began his practice at Abingdon, Va, and later moved to Richmond. Dr Johnson from the time he first located in Richmond was considered one of the leading surgeons of that city. His reputation was established when he introduced into the State of Virginia for the first time "Listerism," which is antiseptic surgery. Dr Johnson had been honored by the largest medical and surgical associations of the United States, having been president of the American Surgery Association, Southern Surgery Association, Medical Society of Virginia, Academy of Medicine of Richmond, and was one of the founders of the American College of Surgery. Dr Johnson was also one of the founders of the Memorial Hospital of Virginia. In later years Dr Johnson with his partner, A Murat Willis, founded the well known Johnson-Willis Sanitarium at Richmond.