John O. Grant

John Oliver Grant was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 13, 1954 to the late William Gibson and Alma L. Grant Pack. He departed this life on April 4, 2018 after a lengthy illness. John received his education in the Baltimore City Public School System. He joined the United States Army in 1975, with an honorable discharge in 1979. Upon returning home he went to work for Jeppi Nut Company and Peanut Labs in 1979 until 1995. He worked at Auto Supply Company from 1996 to 1997. He also worked at Park Hill Childcare. John was a past president of Tyson Walker Men's Auxiliary View Post #8509. John loved music and dancing. John also loved to DJ—he was DJ for The Haven Jazz Club and the Lux Lounge. Along with Ms. Shirley Duncan, he started the New Baltimore Hand Dancing Association in 1991. He was the first DJ to promote Hand Dance. John was known as "John", "Johnny", "DJ Johnny O" and "John O". John was walking past a church on Wolf and 20th Street, when he heard a choir singing. He came home and told his sister about the choir at this church. That Sunday they went to this church to hear the choir and later joined the choir. In 1970 John joined Eastern United Methodist Church along with his sister and 24 other youth. He met and married his first wife, Adrienne at Eastern in 1979, from this union they had one son, John Oliver Grant Jr. Later he married Deborah Dorsey in 1984; they remain good friends. John sang on the Voices of Eastern, The Spirits of Truth, Eastern's Men's Choir, and The Reunion Choir of Baltimore. John became a member of Mt. Calvary A.M.E. in 2013, where he was a member of the Culinary Arts Ministry, Mass Choir and Anointed Voices of Praise. Johnny could always make you laugh will his antics. He was always saying something funny. He will truly be missed by all who knew and loved him. He leaves to cherish his memory: his son, John Oliver Grant Jr.; his grandchildren, Nyla, Sincere and Harlem Grant; ex-wives, Adrienne Grant and Deborah Dorsey-Grant; siblings, Marie F. E. Davis (Albert L. Davis), Reginald G. Johnson (Sheron Johnson) Michele G. Riggsbee, Emanuel E. Pack Sr. (Tracey Pack) James D. Pack Sr. (Joy Pack); godsister, Yvette Belser(Herbert Belser); special friends, Erroll Travis, and William Gross; long timefriend, Shirley Duncan; nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and a host of friends.

Tributes

John O. Grant

April 13, 1954 - April 4, 2018