Obituary for William Henry Johnson Jr.
William Henry Johnson Jr., known to all as “Bill,” was the oldest child born on June 25, 1947, to William Henry Johnson Sr., and Maggie Lee Sanders Johnson, in Northeast, Washington, DC. Bill was raised and educated in Washington, DC. He attended Noyes Elementary and Taft Junior High Schools and graduated from McKinley Technology High School in 1965.
As a young man, Bill loved to play basketball and to dance. He and his friends loved to appear on WOOK-TV’s Teenarama Dance Party--Washington, DC’s first black teen dance show. Hosted by Bob King, the show featured 50-60 teenagers daily and aired for an hour, six days a week, from 1963 – 1970. Bill was an excellent hand dancer, and he tried his very best to appear on every show!
In 1968, Bill joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He was assigned to the Third Recruit Battalion and trained as an anti-tank assaultman. Wounded while stationed in Vietnam, Bill was honorably discharged in 1970. He was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.
In 1969, Bill married Toni Gaither and they had two sons, Charleston and Shawn. Bill was later blessed with one daughter, Kendal. On May 5, 2005, Bill married Wanda Moore with whom he celebrated 22 years of love. They enjoyed traveling—especially on cruises—and they loved the beach. Bill also had a special affinity for the racetrack! He and Wanda were devoted to each other.
Bill attended St. Francis Catholic Church as a child and later joined the Allen Chapel AME Church in Silver Spring, MD, where he and Wanda worshipped and served together.
When he returned home from Vietnam, Bill began his professional career with the United States Post Office in 1970 as a mail carrier. He retired after 42 years of service and countless relationships formed across the years. He also maintained part-time jobs driving long-distance buses for Elite Travel and driving locally for the Ride-on Bus Service in Silver Spring, MD. Following his retirement from the United States Post Office in 2011, he also drove for the Pentagon.
Bill will be remembered as a gentle giant with a big heart. By nature, he was caring and understanding, and willing to help anyone at any time. He leaves to celebrate his life his devoted wife, Wanda Moore-Johnson; two sons, Charleston (Angel) Johnson and Shawn Johnson; one daughter, Kendal Johnson; mother, Maggie Lee Johnson; stepmother, Anola Nightengale; one brother, Robert Lee Johnson; one sister, Elizabeth (Tyrone) Bunn; one brother-in-law, Oscar Moore III; one sister-in-law, Barbara Pulliam; one niece, Trenita Dickey; four granddaughters, LaShae Green, Shawntise Anderson, Kamari Johnson, and Analia Harrison; two grandsons, Donald Gaddy and Donnell Gaddy; three great grandsons, DeNard Gaddy, Darnell Gaddy, and Leon Anderson; three great granddaughters, Milan Anderson, Monroe Anderson, and DaNiya Gaddy; one great nephew, Trenton Dickey; and a host of other family and friends.
Order of Service
Reverend Alan M. Gould Sr., Officiating
Musical Prelude
Musical Selection Ms. Angela Burgess
Organist, Allen Chapel AME Church
Reading of God’s Word Mr. Jay Jay Johnson
Old Testament—Psalm 23 Allen Chapel AME Church
New Testament—John 14:1-6
Prayer of Comfort Ms. Jackie Carrington
Allen Chapel AME Church
Reflections and Acknowledgements
Ms. Dorothy Boddie
Mr. Charleston Johnson
Mr. Shawn Johnson
Ms. Kendal Johnson
Allen Chapel AME Church Letter
Silent Reading of the Obituary
Inspirational Selection Ms. Angela Burgess
The Eulogy Reverend Alan M. Gould Sr.
Pastor, Allen Chapel AME Church
Silver Spring, MD
Benediction Reverend Gould
Recessional
Inurnment
Monday, December 19, 2022
9:45 AM
Cheltenham Cemetery
11301 Crain Highway
Cheltenham, MD 20623
Honorary Pallbearers
Charleston Johnson Shawn Johnson
Robert Lee Johnson Oscar Moore III
Dorothy Boddie
Acknowledgement
The Family of William “Bill” Johnson Jr., wishes to express our sincere appreciation
for your cards, calls, visits, and immeasurable acts of kindness extended to us
in our bereavement. Your support at this difficult time is very much appreciated
and a great source of comfort to our family.
May God continue to bless and keep you.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
~Psalm 37:23 KJV
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ENTRUSTED TO
J.B. Jenkins Funeral Home, Inc.
7474 Landover Road
Hyattsville, MD 20785
As a young man, Bill loved to play basketball and to dance. He and his friends loved to appear on WOOK-TV’s Teenarama Dance Party--Washington, DC’s first black teen dance show. Hosted by Bob King, the show featured 50-60 teenagers daily and aired for an hour, six days a week, from 1963 – 1970. Bill was an excellent hand dancer, and he tried his very best to appear on every show!
In 1968, Bill joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He was assigned to the Third Recruit Battalion and trained as an anti-tank assaultman. Wounded while stationed in Vietnam, Bill was honorably discharged in 1970. He was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.
In 1969, Bill married Toni Gaither and they had two sons, Charleston and Shawn. Bill was later blessed with one daughter, Kendal. On May 5, 2005, Bill married Wanda Moore with whom he celebrated 22 years of love. They enjoyed traveling—especially on cruises—and they loved the beach. Bill also had a special affinity for the racetrack! He and Wanda were devoted to each other.
Bill attended St. Francis Catholic Church as a child and later joined the Allen Chapel AME Church in Silver Spring, MD, where he and Wanda worshipped and served together.
When he returned home from Vietnam, Bill began his professional career with the United States Post Office in 1970 as a mail carrier. He retired after 42 years of service and countless relationships formed across the years. He also maintained part-time jobs driving long-distance buses for Elite Travel and driving locally for the Ride-on Bus Service in Silver Spring, MD. Following his retirement from the United States Post Office in 2011, he also drove for the Pentagon.
Bill will be remembered as a gentle giant with a big heart. By nature, he was caring and understanding, and willing to help anyone at any time. He leaves to celebrate his life his devoted wife, Wanda Moore-Johnson; two sons, Charleston (Angel) Johnson and Shawn Johnson; one daughter, Kendal Johnson; mother, Maggie Lee Johnson; stepmother, Anola Nightengale; one brother, Robert Lee Johnson; one sister, Elizabeth (Tyrone) Bunn; one brother-in-law, Oscar Moore III; one sister-in-law, Barbara Pulliam; one niece, Trenita Dickey; four granddaughters, LaShae Green, Shawntise Anderson, Kamari Johnson, and Analia Harrison; two grandsons, Donald Gaddy and Donnell Gaddy; three great grandsons, DeNard Gaddy, Darnell Gaddy, and Leon Anderson; three great granddaughters, Milan Anderson, Monroe Anderson, and DaNiya Gaddy; one great nephew, Trenton Dickey; and a host of other family and friends.
Order of Service
Reverend Alan M. Gould Sr., Officiating
Musical Prelude
Musical Selection Ms. Angela Burgess
Organist, Allen Chapel AME Church
Reading of God’s Word Mr. Jay Jay Johnson
Old Testament—Psalm 23 Allen Chapel AME Church
New Testament—John 14:1-6
Prayer of Comfort Ms. Jackie Carrington
Allen Chapel AME Church
Reflections and Acknowledgements
Ms. Dorothy Boddie
Mr. Charleston Johnson
Mr. Shawn Johnson
Ms. Kendal Johnson
Allen Chapel AME Church Letter
Silent Reading of the Obituary
Inspirational Selection Ms. Angela Burgess
The Eulogy Reverend Alan M. Gould Sr.
Pastor, Allen Chapel AME Church
Silver Spring, MD
Benediction Reverend Gould
Recessional
Inurnment
Monday, December 19, 2022
9:45 AM
Cheltenham Cemetery
11301 Crain Highway
Cheltenham, MD 20623
Honorary Pallbearers
Charleston Johnson Shawn Johnson
Robert Lee Johnson Oscar Moore III
Dorothy Boddie
Acknowledgement
The Family of William “Bill” Johnson Jr., wishes to express our sincere appreciation
for your cards, calls, visits, and immeasurable acts of kindness extended to us
in our bereavement. Your support at this difficult time is very much appreciated
and a great source of comfort to our family.
May God continue to bless and keep you.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
~Psalm 37:23 KJV
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ENTRUSTED TO
J.B. Jenkins Funeral Home, Inc.
7474 Landover Road
Hyattsville, MD 20785