Hansel Phillip Johnson

Born March 4, 1936, in Kingston, Jamaica, to Phillip Johnson and Ethel McLarty, Hansel was the youngest of 10 children. Hansel lived in Jamaica for the first 30 years of his life. The young Hansel Johnson was very industrious and started working at an early age. In his youth, Hansel was a champion cyclist, and rode daily until his early eighties. He also enjoyed playing ping pong and held a championship title in the 1970s at Roberto Clemente State Park in Bronx, New York.

Hansel migrated to Canada where he stayed for a short while before migrating to Manhattan, New York in 1967 (his destiny was in New York). In 1968 he met Fay Brown who he married in 1970; they shared 51 years as husband and wife. Fay and Hansel built a life of promise for their five children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Hansel’s humble upbringing sparked in him an entrepreneurial spirit, with his wife, he owned a restaurant, a transportation service, and entered other business ventures. His work ethic benefited not only him and his household, but it also benefited those in need. If there was work to be done Hansel could be counted on until it was complete. Hansel’s work ethics was one of the many legacies left to his children.

Hansel was first and foremost, a family man who deeply loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Although Hansel had an easygoing personality and calm disposition, he also possessed a sharp sense of humor and was also quick with light humor that would change the mood in any room; it seems he always knew the right thing to say. Hansel was passionate about boxing, horse racing, and enjoyed watching nature documentaries. His youngest son and oldest granddaughter have fond memories of going with Hansel to the racetrack on weekends where they created a lifetime of memories. While Hansel listened to a wide range of music, he loved listening to country music, his favorite country music artist was Conway Twitty.

Hansel was a committed Jehovah’s Witness. He began fellowship in his late thirties when he lived in New York and through all life’s events he held steadfast to his faith. While living in New York, he was a member of the Wakefield congregation and transferred to the North Palm Coast congregation when he moved to Florida. Hansel studied diligently with his Jehovah Witness family and was baptized at the age of 84.

His family and friends knew him only as a kind and mild-mannered person whose character never changed. He taught his children to value education, work hard, and to show kindness to others, a favorite saying of his was “it cost nothing to be kind”.

Hansel’s passing on June 15, was unexpected and has left a hole in the heart of his family and loved ones. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Lenora, and survived by his beloved wife of 51 years Fay, his five other children Meggan Hemans-Reese (Governor Reese), Dean Johnson, Toni Smith, Faith Johnson, and Hanson Johnson (Ainura Johnson); his nine grandchildren Tahjae, Sascha, Elijah, Naomi, Alexis, Isaiah, Lucky, Deon, and Allison; and his two great-grandchildren Riley and Lily. He is also survived by sisters: Mrs. Sylvia McKenzie, Mrs. Joyce Steele, and Ms. Norma Johnson, also left to mourn are loving nieces, nephews, relatives, and dear friends.

Words cannot express how much Hansel is loved by his family and friends, nor are there any words that can express how much he will be missed.