Charles Johnson

THE STORY OF MY LIFE...Written by: Charles Johnson I was born to my parents, Charles and Helen, on August 4, 1947 in Baltimore, MD. I was the eldest brother to ten siblings. I always knew that I couldn’t stay in my earthly form forever so on December 1, 2020, I made my transition home. The Boy... I was raised with my grandparents, Arthur and Elizabeth Bowie. They were deeply rooted in Christ and it was with them that I first found out about GOD. My grandparents always made sure that we attended church and taught us to believe in GOD. My cousin Ida used to play the organ and when I watched her, I grew a passion for wanting to play it as well. My grandmother orchestrated my opportunity for lessons and I never stopped playing. I played sports as a boy but I enjoyed baseball more than anything else. My favorite position was pitcher. I also learned to play chess as a young boy and I enjoyed taking on others while perfecting my skills to beat my opponents in only a few moves. The Young Man... I earned my GED before entering the United States Army. Although I didn’t pursue a career in the military, I learned valuable lessons that taught me to be a strong and disciplined man. As a young man, I had various jobs before finding a career that I really wanted to stick with. The Big Brother... Although I didn’t grow up in a home with all of my brothers and sisters, I still maintained a great relationship with all of them. I told each one of them what to do! They would fuss and sometimes yell but they always kept their respect for me as their older brother. They knew that I would never see them without and that I would always protect them from whatever the situation presented. We spent hours arguing, laughing, traveling, and loving each other as we grew up. My mother and her sisters were close-knit, so I was also raised with my first cousins, who I also treated like brothers and sisters. As the older brother, I never wanted to see any of them leave this earth before me but I am thankful that I have my sisters Dorothy, Shirley, Martha and my brother Gary there to greet me in heaven when I arrive. I know that my other sisters, Karen, Wendy, Trisha and my brothers Charles, Carmichael and Howard are sad to see me go but I want them to know that I will always be their Big Brother and I love them so much. The Father... In 1965, I fathered a son, James. I married the late Myra Scott in 1968 to whom I had two children, Antoinette and Robert, with. I met Sharon Jones in 1967 and later had two children, Ramona and Trish. I later married the late Janice Jones in 1986 and helped to raise her daughter and son, Tonette and Davin. My children meant the world to me and I always wanted them to grow up together and remain close. I loved my sons, but my girls were my world. Nothing like a Daddy’s girl! My friends would say to me, “You’ve spoiled those girls rotten” but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I was the KING of telling the best Dad jokes. I would tell the joke and laugh before I could finish it and even when I would mess it up, they would still laugh like I was the funniest man alive. The Hard Working Man... Back in the day to earn money, I would drive cars off the docks, I drove a liquor truck (lol), and I drove city cabs. I got pretty acquainted with the city of Baltimore and it allowed me to develop my love for traveling. I drove Tour buses for Smith Bus Company and would travel up and down and all over the country. I would remember how to maneuver around the Eastern seaboard by my various trips. I became a human GPS, lol. I began my career with the city of Baltimore in September 1976 with the Department of Public Works in the Patapsco Waste Water Treatment Division. I spent many years there and had multiple roles but most recently I was the Acting Plant Operations Supervisor. I was in charge of the plant’s daily operations to ensure that all operations ran smoothly. I had planned to retire but I decided to continue to work because I enjoyed having something to do daily and I loved working with my crew. I met so many young men and young women during my tenure there. They became a part of my family and I became a part of theirs. I treated each one of them with respect and they returned it back to me. The Brother to Others... I met many people throughout my life but the relationship that I had with the men and women that I worked with throughout the years was invaluable to me. I had loads of friends but I held a close relationship with my “Lunch Crew”, Eric Johnson and Clarence Flight. We enjoyed our outings and they became more to me than co-workers. They were my brothers. There friendship extended past our work relationship. They fixed cars for me, made repairs in the home, they even fixed my children’s and their children’s cars, too. When I met Neal Jackson, he started the plant as a twenty-year-old young man. I mentored him and he always remained a valued friend/son to me. He thought that I was a mentor to him but watching him grow up to a man, in reality, he really mentored me. Although I only had five biological children, I became a father figure to the men and woman in the Primary division. The Man of God... I began my faith walk at St. Ann’s Spiritual Temple as a boy. In the late 70’s, I was introduced to Mt. Zion UMC- Magothy by the late Irvin Hall and I have served as the organist there ever since. I assisted with many different choirs and various churches such as the Dixon United Choral Ensemble, The Queens Sisters, Hall UMC, Asbury Town Neck UMC and Mt. Calvary UMC to name a few. Although I played for multiple choirs and churches, I spent the most time traveling with the Rupert Hall Male Chorus. I served under the late Reverend Julius Ford and most recently under, Pastor Johnnie Randolph, Jr. I was blessed to play alongside my right hand, Birdi Green for over forty years and Reverend Ernest Demby. We played music for Sanctuary Choir, the BG Ensemble and the VOP Youth Ensemble and enjoyed serving the Lord through music. The Pop Pop... My grandchildren were my world. They were the reason that I was brought here. To give them the unconditional love that they would need. All thirteen grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren held a special place in my heart. I tried to show them to be self-reliant and to be respectful. Their love was unconditional and I would always talk about how proud I was of them. My grandchildren’s career paths varied but each of them blazed a trail for themselves. I am proud to leave this life knowing that they are ready to make their marks in life. I will always be there with them in spirit, watching over and reminding them to always do the right thing. My Legacy... My earthly life has come to an end but my legacy will continue through my seven children, James (Renee), Antoinette, Robert, Ramona, Tonette (Kevin), Davin and Trish; thirteen grandchildren, Donnell, Tyrone (Nakia), Keisha, Joseph III (Ebony), Ashley (Kendrick), Robert, Jr., Elrico, Monteya, Devin, Jasmine, Raeqwan, Denitra, and James; twenty-three great-grandchildren; three sisters, Wendy (Horace), Karen and Trisha; three brothers, Charles, Carmichael (Barbara) and Howard (Aurelia); one uncle, Ernest (Diane); three aunts, Clementine, Frieda, Hazel and Josephine; love and life partner, Sharon; a second Mom, Alice Green; loads of nieces and nephews; my first cousins that were raised as my siblings; godchildren; my church family; my work family; and a host of others that I loved and shared my life with. I am so thankful to each and every person that helped to fill my book of life. Each of you brought something different and my life and its story has now been completed. I hope that you will always know that I loved each of you and I was so thankful to have you be a part of my story.

Tributes

Charles Johnson

August 4, 1947 - December 1, 2020