Howard Lloyd Johnson Sr.

Mr. Howard Lloyd Johnson Sr. was on October 05, 1931 in Whitmire, South Carolina to the late Thomas Johnson and Helen Renwick.  

On May 24, 1956, he married his loving wife, Dorothy.  One of his biggest accomplishments was being a loving and impactful father to his two children, Howard Jr., known as Mickey, and Debra.

At an early age, Howard joined Cedar Grove African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Whitmire, South Carolina, where he avidly attended Sunday School in addition to Sunday service until his passing.

Howard, affectionately known as "Hojo, Bo, and HJ," was the youngest boy of ten children.  He earned his diploma from Carver High School in Whitmire, South Carolina.  After graduation in June 1948, he enlisted into the armed forces.  He proudly served twenty-seven years in the United States Air Force.  His time in the military allowed him and his family to be world travelers.  He was stationed in Germany, Alaska, Ohio, Maine, and Washington, D.C. among other places around the world.  He retired from the military in 1975 and moved back to Whitmire.

After retirement from the military, Howard began a fulfilling  a career in law enforcement.  For sixteen years, he worked as a corrections officer for the state of South Carolina.  In the early 2000's, he started working at the Newberry County Courthouse as a bailiff, until 2012.

Howard had many hobbies including planting in his garden, solving crossword puzzles and researching his family history.  He was known as the family historian, as he uncovered and traced the origins of his father and mother back to the early 1800's.  He also loved to watch baseball, always rooting for his favorite team the Atlanta Braves.  A lover of nature and animals, the last few years he enjoyed spending time outside and caring for his cats.

Howard developed a close bond with two people, who could be referred to as nephews though they were actually his cousins.  He enjoyed his daily conversations, working on household projects and sharing many laughs and wisdom with his buddies Tony Henderson and Tommie Young.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Helen Johnson and his loving daughter, Debra Inez Johnson Clark.

Left behind to cherish his fond memories are his dear and devoted wife of over sixty-six years, Dorothy Johnson; his son, Howard L. (Christina) Johnson Jr. of Charlotte, NC;  two grandchildren:  Howard L. Johnson III of Charleston, SC; Jamie (Julian) Parham of Atlanta, GA; one great-granddaughter, Harper Noel Parham; three sisters:  Evelyn Miles, Hazel Jordan, Maxine Chisholm, all of Philadelphia, PA; three sisters-in-law:  Billie Watts, Jackie (Robert) Harlan of Maryland, Sylvia Johnson of Philadelphia, PA; brother-in-law, Charles (Diane) Williams of Maryland; special family, Tony (Edna) Henderson of Carlisle, SC; god-daughter, Alesia Henderson of Columbia, SC; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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