Celebration of Life for Walter Edward Johnson, Tuesday, October 8, 2002, 11:00 A.M., Friendship Baptist Church, 437 Mitchell Street, Southwest, Atlanta, Georgia, The Reverend William V. Guy, Pastor, Officiating

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Tuesday, October 8, 2002 -11:00 A.M.-
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437 Mitchell Street, Southwest Atlanta, Georgia
The Reverend William V. Guy, Pastor Officiating

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A TIME TO BE BORN: Walter Edward Johnson, the fifth of eight children, was born to the late Bertha Andrews and John William Johnson on August 27, 1927 in Wagram, North Carolina.
A TIME TO LIVE: Walter grew up as a youth in Hamlet, North Carolina. He attended East Hamlet and Capital Highway High School. Later his family moved to Greensboro, North Carolina, where he graduated from Dudley High School in 1944. Walter entered the Army Specialized Training Program at Howard University, Washington, D.C. His active participation in this program helped to launch a very successful Army career when he served in World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1952.
Walter relocated to central New Jersey and enjoyed a long career as a civil servant with the Department of Defense (DOD). In 1954, he was married to the late Gloria Neely for twenty-seven years of Long Branch, New Jersey until her death in 1981. Three children were born to this union , Tyrone, Brian, and Adrienne Joi (AJ). The family resided in Fair Haven, New Jersey. Walter balanced his home life with a highly visible and successful career including Chief, Systems Architecture Branch , Tri-Services Communications Command and Deputy Program Manager for the CommunicationsElectronics Command, Department of the Army. Prior to his retirement from the Federal Government in 1983, Walter received numerous awards and citations for exemplary work performance and was instrumental in initiating activities to promote racial equality within DOD. He was an honor graduate of the Industrial College of Armed Services.
After his retirement , he applied his skills acquired as an electrical engineer at Howard University. He joined the Company of Knuckles Electric, the first and only African American electrical service company in Monmouth County, New Jersey. After the declining health of the company's owner, Walter assumed the role of president and subsequently , the owner of the company . Realizing his dream as an entrepreneur, he, against the strong wishes of his many customers of all races, made the decision to close the company. His keen interest and desire fo r continued involvement in the workforce led to his employment with Tex Com Electronic where he served as the local marketing representative at Fort Monmouth Army Communications Research Facility, Eatontown, New Jersey.
Walter was an active member of Trinity A .M.E. Church , Long Branch , New Jersey and served in numerous organizations including his commu nity where he was a committed leader in youth involved activities.
In 1994, Walter met and later married Shirline Mclendon Peterson of Atlanta. He moved to Atlanta in 1996. In 1997, he joined his wife as a member of Friendship Baptist Church where he worked faithfully until his death . One of his ultimate joys at Friendship was singing in the Inspirational Choir where he served as President for the past two years . Walter was an avid golfer and member of the Atlanta Pro-Duffers, USA and a life member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
A TIME TO REST: On Friday, September 27 , 2002 at 5:38p.m. he passed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York. He leaves his passion and zest for life as a beacon of light to his devoted wife, Shirline Peterson Johnson; two sons, Tyrone Johnson, Marietta, Georgia and Brian Johnson (Fern), Centreville, Virginia; one daughter, Adrienne Joi (AJ) Johnson , Sherman Oaks, California ; three brothers, Richard Johnson (Maye), Red Bank, New Jersey, Joseph Johnson (Maxine), Greensboro, North Carolina, and Andrew Johnson (Diane), Charlotte, North Carolina; two sisters, Mildred Johnson Jackson (Peter) , Hollis, New York and Vivian Johnson McCullough, Greensboro, North Carolina; one aunt, Sylvan Williams; one granddaughter, Peyton ; two grandsons, Kyle and Landon; father-in-law , Paul Mclendon, Atlanta, Georgia; one brother-in-law, James Mclendon ,Upper Marlboro, Maryland; one sister-in-law, Josephine Simmons (Thomas), Tinton Falls, New Jersey; one godson , Paul Webb (Linda) , Glassboro, New Jersey; a host of nieces , nephews, cousins , other relatives and friends .

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ORGAN PRELUDE .......................... ................................... Mr. Kenneth Wynn

PROCESSIONAL AND SENTENCES FROM THE HOLY SCRIPTURE

INVOCATION ...... .... ..... ............ .. ... ... .... ............ The Reverend Randy Johnson

HYMN No . 25 ... ...... ...... ..... .......... .... .. ........... .... ...... ........ "How Great Thou Art"

SCRIPTURE:

The Old Testament ....... ...... .................. The Reverend Ernest Augcomfar

The New Testa ent .. ....... .... .. ..... .. ..... ........ The Reverend Frances Bryant

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SELECTION .. .. ... ..... .... ....... ... ..... .... .. ....... ........ ..... ... ..... The Inspirational Choir

REFLECTIONS : Dr. Wilbert Leaphart The Reverend Gwendolyn Hudgens Mr. Erman Jones

PIANO SELECTION ....... ..... .... ... .. .. .......... ... ..... ... ..... .... . Ms. Alta "Ten a" Sutton "My Way"

REFLECTIONS: Dr. James Parker Mr. Tyrone Johnson Ms. Adrienne (AJ) Johnson

TRIBUTE ... .. ... .... ............. .... ..... .. ..... ...... .. .. .. ....... .... .. Mr. Earl Harris, President Atlanta Pro-Duffers, USA

SELECTION .. .. ... .... .... .. ..... .... .. ..... .... .. ... ... ... .. ....... ...... .. The Inspirational Choir

MEDITATION ... .... .. ............. .... ... .... ... .... ... .... The Reverend Dr. William V. Guy

ORGAN MEDLEY .. ............ ............ ....... .... .. ...... .......... ... ..... Mr. Kenneth Wynn

PRAYER

RECESSIONAL HYMN No . 447 .... .... ....... .... ..... ... .... ..... ... .. "Sweet B y and B y"

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Forest Lawn Cemetery 5755 Mallory Road
College Park, Georgia

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A Blessed Promise '~nd God shall wipe away all tears from your eyes."
"Don't spend too much time mourning, Tears are for those who are sad; I left to be with Jesus, And this should make you glad. Life on earth has ended, It came my time to rest; Don't lose the love I gave you, For it is love that yields the best. Don't fret because my leaving Came in such an unexpected way, For we shall meet again On God's eternal day. "
In lieu of flowers, the fa1nily asks that contributions be 1nade to the Scholarship Fund at Eta 01nega Foundation. Make checks payable to Eta 01nega Foundation, P. 0. Box 50521, Atlanta, Georgia 30302; Me1no I For: Walt Johnson Scholarship Fund, or contributions 1nay be 1nade to Phi Upsilon Chapter, 01nega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Neptune, New Jersey.

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Cowan Brooks Francis Davis Earl Harris

Clarence Neely Govan Thomas Paul Webb

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Atlanta Pro-Duffers, USA

Eta Omega Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Fredrick Agee John Benson

Bob Hodges Robert Mann

Charles Dillard Walter Fulcher

HenryS. Martin, Jr. Chester McEachern

Bruce Grant Doug Harris

Thomas Simmons Jason Slaughter

Thomas Hill

Herb Thomas

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Deaconess Board Adult Fellowship Atlanta Chapter, Les Gemmes, Inc.
Kim Richards Donna Wilkerson Robyn Joya Johnson
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Kappa Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Pamela Azmi-Andrew Ellen Bradley Ganus Toy Ogden

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The family of the late Walter Edward Johnson expresses sincere gratitude for your prayers, calls, cards and other expressions of kindness. Special thanks for the overwhelming response to our prayer requests during his illness. You have brought us comfort in so many ways and your love and concern during our bereavement have touched our hearts so deeply.

Carl M. Williams Funeral Directors, Inc.
"The Tradition Continues"
Carl M Williams
Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer
492 Larkin Street, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30313
(404) 522-8454
MKO Graphics & Printers (404) 523-1560