Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

January 18, 2023

Matthew Michael Johnson, MD (November 23, 1977 – January 18, 2023)

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Matthew Michael Johnson, MD, of Charlotte, NC, who tragically passed away on January 18, 2023.

Matthew was born on November 23, 1977, in Charleston, SC, the first born son of Robert Michael Johnson and Medora Jackson Johnson.  He attended Spring Valley High School in Columbia, SC, the Honors College at University of South Carolina, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honorary society and graduated magna cum laude, and the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC, receiving his medical degree in 2004.  He continued his training in Boston, MA, completing a pathology residency program and dermatopathology fellowship program at Massachusetts General Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School.  It is here where he met his future wife, fellow resident Nicole A. Belsley, MD, daughter of Jan A. Belsley and the late Michael D. Belsley.  Matthew and Nicole remained in Boston, MA, where Matthew worked as a dermatopathologist with Miraca Life Sciences.  Searching for a warmer climate, Matthew and his family moved to Charlotte, NC in 2015 where Matthew worked for Carolinas Pathology Group.

Matthew was one of a kind who elicited joy and exuded warmth and acceptance.  He was an adoring husband; a loving father; a first-born son; an older brother; a great friend; a doctor; a musician; a fisherman; a savant – the list goes on.  He was a modern day Renaissance man who did so many things so well and so effortlessly – even humility came easy to him.  Among the things he excelled in, nothing was more important to him than being a devoted husband and father, spending time with his family at the beach, snowboarding, mountain biking and trying to catch fish.  Matthew had a love for music, with a guitar always close by.  He was an exceptional singer, songwriter and musician.  He instilled this love of music in his children, because a world without music would B^b.  Though it was his family he loved the most, Matt collected numerous friends throughout his life, whose friendship he always cherished.  He will be greatly missed and always in our hearts. 

Matthew is survived by his wife, Nicole, and three children; Sadie (12), Ripley (10) and Clifford (7) of Charlotte, NC.  He is also survived by his parents, Mike and Medora of Columbia, SC and two brothers; Andrew (Maggie), and Philip (Laura) of Columbia, SC, brothers-in-law Michael Belsley (Nina) of Chicago, IL, and Scott Belsley, MD (Gigi, MD) of New York, NY and sister-in-law Michelle Smilowitz (Abe) of Park City, UT, many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends, and his running companion, Apollo (of Charlotte, NC).

Visitation will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC, from 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Friday, January 27.  Funeral services will be at 3 pm, also at Covenant Presbyterian Church, with a reception to follow.  The service will be livestreamed at https://www.covenantpresby.org/live for those unable to attend in person.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a college fund for the children.  If interested, please reach out to Andrew Johnson (atjohns2277@hotmail.com) for further details.