Retired Command Sergeant Major, Clifton Johnson, Jr. was born in Galveston, Texas February 7, 1941 to Clifton Johnson, Sr. and Annie L. Pierce Johnson. On Wednesday, May 15, 2019, he went to his eternal home with the Lord.
Clifton attended McKinley and Scotlandville High Schools in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he participated on the basketball team and graduated in 1960. In 1966, he married Delores Brimmer and together they had two daughters, Ingrid and Cardiss. In 2004, Clifton married Deborah Attee Brown. Deborah has a son and two daughters: Darren Robert, Yolanda, and Takyna.
Clifton received his Bachelors and Master’s degrees from Southern University in 1971 and 1975 respectively. His career began in the Summer of 1960 when he enlisted in the United States Army. After over 32 years of Federal Service, including approximately six years in the United States Army and 26 years across the Veteran’s Administration and United States Army Reserve, he eventually retired in 2000. During his service, he deployed to Operation Desert Storm and Restore Hope. The last 10 years of his career were spent at the Atlanta Public School District as a Physical Education Teacher where he retired in 2010.
Clifton devoted much of his life to serving others. He valued his family and friends. Throughout the years, he assisted in the upbringing of several family members including younger siblings, nieces, and grandchildren. Baptized at the St. Peter African Methodist Episcopal Church in Montgomery, Alabama, he was known for being a servant leader, for his ability to cook a good meal, and for his optimistic view of life. He always found a reason to share laughter with those around him.
Clifton will always be loved and remembered by his wife, Deborah Johnson, Atlanta, GA; daughter, Cardiss (Wallace) Knight, Waxahachie, TX; step-children, Darren Dorsey, Dallas, TX, Yolanda Ferguson, Atlanta, GA, and Takyna Ritter, Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Garrett Bryce Johnson, Dallas, TX, Rodrick Cornell (Chaynna) Boykin, Jr., Arlington, TX, Clifton James Boykin, McKinney, TX, Christopher Michael Rogers, II, Charleston, SC, Cayla Lelo Williams, Waxahachie, TX; two additional grandchildren by marriage, Takiyah and Saylah Jones, Atlanta, GA; great-grandchildren, Rodrick Cornell Boykin, III and Victoriah Gisele Boykin, Arlington, TX; siblings, June (Lenwood) Price, Richmond, CA, Barbara (Alvin) Mack, Baton Rouge, LA, Deborah Johnson, Frisco, TX, Lawrence (Denise) Johnson, Cedar Hill, TX, Denise (Jerry) Brown, Garland, TX; and a large family of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives along with many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifton Johnson, Sr. and Annie L. Johnson, siblings, Beverly Johnson and Johnny George Johnson, Sr., and daughter, Ingrid Gisele Johnson.
