Paul W. Johnson

“For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psalm 84:10). This scripture encompasses the life and legacy of Paul Wilson Johnson.

Paul, the son of the late Raymond and the late Helen Johnson was born on September 27, 1933. Paul W. Johnson departed this life, on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at the age of 86.

Paul grew up with his parents and siblings in the Frederick/Montgomery County area. Paul was educated in the Anne Arundel County Public School system in which he graduated from Bates High School in 1953.

Paul began working as a handyman and laborer. Paul then actively served in the United States Air Force as an Airman Second Class from June 1956 to May 1960. Shortly after his honorable discharge from the military, Paul was employed for 30 years at the United States Postal Service and retired in 1988.

Paul was appointed as a polling election judge by the Prince George’s County Board of Elections in 2003 in which he served helping many people vote at the polling stations for many elections over the years. Paul was also heavily involved in the church. He was a member of Hemingway Memorial AME Church for many years where he served as an usher on the Usher Board and graduated from the Interdenominational Church Usher’s Association in 1990. In 2016, he was awarded accolades for his dedication and service to the usher board in which he retired shortly thereafter.

Paul was a talented tennis player in which he was known to successfully win matches with people much younger than him. Paul enjoyed watching sports in which his favorite football team was the Baltimore Ravens (former Colts). He also enjoyed watching Looney Tunes, learning and becoming fluent in German, gardening vegetables and plants, and listening to political radio and Christian music in which Amy Grant was his favorite artist. Paul was most known to others as a quiet, humble, stern, and fair person; especially to those who worked with him on the usher board.

Paul leaves to cherish his memory: one brother; Preston L. Johnson of Davidsonville, MD, one son; Emmanuel J.R. Johnson of Gaithersburg, MD, three daughters; Vivian J. Johnson of Newark, DE, Emma V. Johnson of Alexandria, VA, and Linda S. Hutchinson of District Heights, MD, one granddaughter; Braelynn A. Hutchinson of District Heights, MD; many nieces, nephews, cousins, a host of other relatives, and friends. He will truly be missed by all.