Walter L. Johnson

WALTER LENWOOD JOHNSON was the loving husband of Josephine Johnson father of Lenwood, Freida, Linda, Joyce and Rita. Walter was the third child of Clarence Johnson and Julia Thompson Johnson born on May 2, 1920 in Eastern Baltimore City. Walter was a confluence of two very large tide water northern Virginia families with Johnson’s and Thompson’s on his father’s side of the family from Richmond County, Va. and Johnson’s and Thompson’s on his mothers side of the family of Westmoreland, Va. He was baptized and became a member of Grace Memorial Baptist Church.Walter received his formal education in the Baltimore City Schools, graduating from Douglas High School in 1938. He continued his education by attending Cortez Peters Business School. Shortly after, in the late 1930’s, he secured a porter’s position with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O). Eventually he was assigned to work on the B&O’s Flag Ship Train, The Royal Blue that provided luxurious travel between Washington D.C. and New York City. In that assignment he had occasions to meet captains of industry, national political leaders, movie stars, professional athletes, religious leaders of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths, and those involved in positive social changes for African Americans. He could at any time recall these occasions with great specificity.He remained an employee of the B&O until the early 1960’s when the company ceased passenger service along the eastern seaboard. By that time Walter in heart had become quintessentially a “Railroad Man”, disciplined in the formalities of decorum, education, language, dress and punctuality. In fact it was said of that he was “congenitally punctual. His ardent embrace of those disciplines, even after leaving the B&O, stood him good stead for passing the U.S. Postal Clerk Examination in the early 1960’s, while he was in his 40’s. After all, at that time, he still had an eight member immediate family to support. He remained in the employ of the U.S. Postal Service until he retired in 1973.After retiring, Walter spent much of his time reading, learning, and most of all holding his direct five generation family together. Further, in the last decade or so because of his longevity, furtive mind and depth of knowledge of our direct and collateral families he had become the acknowledged family griot, historian and genealogical expert consultant. Walter made it his business to keep in touch with family members all over the country. He lived for the opportunity to attend the Annual Westmoreland County Family Reunion and Homecoming where he could share his knowledge of the family with others. At last years gathering, all five generations of his direct descendents were represented. Much of what has been written here serve not only to illuminate the remarkable life journey of Walter Lenwood Johnson of Pop-Pop as many of his grandchildren called him but to inform the younger family generations that they come from family achievers who survived the middle passage, slavery, Jim Crow laws and did what was necessary to get their offspring thus far. Follow Pop-Pops example and you will have a promising future.Pop-Pop went on to his reward on February 6, 2006. We, the family miss his physical presence. His spiritual presence however is now very much with us. So listen to him, be directed by him, and be comforted by him. For he now rests in the mighty arms of Jesus. He suffers no more pain and after nine years is now reunited with his living wife Josephine in heaven.There was an editorial cartoon published in the last few days that has circulated almost without notice. This cartoon depicts a beautiful lady with suitcase at her side, standing in clouds in front of heavens pearly gates. From behind the gates the blooming voice of country preacher extols, “I have a dream…And here she comes now! …If I may, I would like to think Josephine is extolling much the same thing-“I also have a dream…And here he comes now!Pop-Pop, words cannot express how much we truly love you,Walter Lenwood Johnson leaves to praise his memory one loving son, Lenwood Johnson, four daughters, Linda M. Cooper, Joyce James and Rita Robertson-El: thirteen grandchildren, Angelisa Morton, Sharbett Morton, Michelle Morton, Darrel Morton Sr., Alex Robertson-El, Terressa Cooper, Towanda Oglesby, Jendayi Johnson, Betserai Johnson, Larry Robertson Jr.-Bey, Danté Aulton, Khan Williams, Victoria Oglesby, Tiffany Oglesby, Leonard Wooding, Darrell Morton Jr., Cierra Ellerbe, Marquis Addison, Deon Williams, Michael Morton and Jasmine Johnson; six great-great grandchildren, Andria Weaver, Chardae Myers, Michael Morton Jr., Tykie Williams, Lakhan Williams, and Keiko Williams; three son-in-laws, dozens of nieces and nephews, hundreds of other relatives and a host of friends.

Tributes

Walter L. Johnson

May 2, 1920 - February 6, 2006