Obituary for Sam Johnson Jr.
Sam Johnson was born June 14, 1940 and transitioned at Veterans Hospital on March 31, 2022.
He was born in Sumter, South Carolina, to the late Sarah and Sam Johnson Sr. He was the youngest of 15 children, that proceeded him in death. Although, Sam was a father figure to many, he only had one son, Wendell. He would do anything for his son, he cherished so dearly.
He came to Washington DC at an early age. He joined the US Army at the age of 24, he stayed in the Army for a couple of years, then received an honorable discharge. He loved driving trucks to make a living. For many years he drove trucks for the US Defense Department, and eventually retired.
Sam enjoyed entertaining friends and family, hosting cookouts and dinners. He loved playing cards, cooking, dancing, working on cars, and watching the Redskins game.
He often gathered with friends at the “Lot” to have a “Hitty-Poo” to shoot the breeze. When someone made an agreeable statement, mostly likely Sam’s reply was, “Blick-up and Blah-dow”. Everyone wanted to hear what Sam had to say. He had a unique way with using words and slang to express himself. Careful, you may miss a joke or sound advice, when he would talk with closed eyes or looked in the opposite direction of the intended audience.
Sam was very easy going. Nothing ruffled his feathers. He could make you laugh when you wanted to cry. He always saw the brighter side of a negative situation.
Sam leaves to cherish his precious memory, his wife Mary Johnson (his sweetheart for the past 27 years); his son Wendell Owen Johnson (Nicole); Phyllis Jones (mother of his son) two stepdaughters, Veronica Cowling and Tammie Diggs; two grandsons Darnell Givens and Wendell Owens Johnson, Jr.; one step grandson (Gregory Cowling); several nieces nephews from 3 generations, and many friends.
He was born in Sumter, South Carolina, to the late Sarah and Sam Johnson Sr. He was the youngest of 15 children, that proceeded him in death. Although, Sam was a father figure to many, he only had one son, Wendell. He would do anything for his son, he cherished so dearly.
He came to Washington DC at an early age. He joined the US Army at the age of 24, he stayed in the Army for a couple of years, then received an honorable discharge. He loved driving trucks to make a living. For many years he drove trucks for the US Defense Department, and eventually retired.
Sam enjoyed entertaining friends and family, hosting cookouts and dinners. He loved playing cards, cooking, dancing, working on cars, and watching the Redskins game.
He often gathered with friends at the “Lot” to have a “Hitty-Poo” to shoot the breeze. When someone made an agreeable statement, mostly likely Sam’s reply was, “Blick-up and Blah-dow”. Everyone wanted to hear what Sam had to say. He had a unique way with using words and slang to express himself. Careful, you may miss a joke or sound advice, when he would talk with closed eyes or looked in the opposite direction of the intended audience.
Sam was very easy going. Nothing ruffled his feathers. He could make you laugh when you wanted to cry. He always saw the brighter side of a negative situation.
Sam leaves to cherish his precious memory, his wife Mary Johnson (his sweetheart for the past 27 years); his son Wendell Owen Johnson (Nicole); Phyllis Jones (mother of his son) two stepdaughters, Veronica Cowling and Tammie Diggs; two grandsons Darnell Givens and Wendell Owens Johnson, Jr.; one step grandson (Gregory Cowling); several nieces nephews from 3 generations, and many friends.