Horace Johnson, a longtime elected official who became the first Black mayor of the Town of Hillsborough, died Thursday. He was 95 years old, having celebrated his birthday just days before. The town government shared the news of the six-term mayor’s death Friday night in a release. “Mayor Johnson was a transformative leader whose courage and advocacy helped reshape the town during a pivotal era,” sitting Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell said. “As an elected official and as a resident of Hillsborough, he championed civil rights, municipal development and community engagement with lasting influence on the town. He will always be an essential part of our history.” Johnson first arrived in Hillsborough in 1954 as a native of Mobile, Alabama, and always shared that he initially planned to be in the community for a two-week stay but decided to put down roots in the town with his wife. He earned elected office in town in 1977, serving for 12 years on the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners af...