Alex Claudius Johnson

Dr. Alex Claudius Johnson was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on August 14, 1943. He began his education at Model School and later attended the prestigious Sierra Leone Grammar School, where he remained a proud alumnus throughout his life.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honours in Language and Literature from Durham University, a Master’s degree in English and American Literature from the University of Kent at Canterbury, a Master of Philosophy degree in Linguistics from Leeds University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Ibadan, with a thesis entitled “Language and Society in West African Literature: A Stylistic Investigation into the Linguistic Resources of West African Drama in English.”

Dr. Johnson joined the teaching staff of Fourah Bay College as a lecturer in English in the Faculty of Arts. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1982, and in the same year, received a sabbatical attachment to the Universität Bayreuth in West Germany, where he served for the next two years as Professor of English Language and Creole Studies.

He later became Head of the Department of English at Fourah Bay College in September 1986, and in the following year, was appointed Head of the Department of Classics and Philosophy. In

September 1988, he was promoted to Associate Professor and Head of the Department of English. He became Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Fourah Bay College four months later.

A respected scholar and a member of several professional associations, Dr. Johnson authored more than forty publications and academic presentations. His work appeared in renowned journals such as Africana Research Bulletin, African Literature Today, World Literature Written in English, and Bayreuth African Studies Series.

His professional contributions also included serving as Chief Examiner for ‘A Level English Literature I (Drama)’ with the West African Examinations Council, and Chief Examiner for the English

Language Teachers’ Certificate. From 1990 to 2012, Dr. Johnson served as a Professor of English at South Carolina State University, where he taught literature, writing, and linguistics to generations of students, leaving a lasting legacy of scholarship, mentorship, and integrity.

In August 1969, Dr. Johnson married the late Daphne Johnson (née Taylor), and together they had two children: the late Alex Marvin Johnson and Joyemi Jameson.

Dr. Johnson passed away peacefully on October 6, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with his family by his side. He will be remembered not only for his academic excellence and contributions to West African literature and education but also for his quiet wisdom, deep intellect, and unwavering commitment to his family and students.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Joyemi and Terrence Jameson; grandchildren, Sacha and Sierra Jameson; his sister and brother-in-law, Sheila and Jonathan Anuku, and family; sister Jacqueline Johnson and family; brothers Sylvanus Duro Johnson and family; Columbus Jonah and family; Georgie Gabbidon, and family.

He is also survived by his beloved aunt, Mrs. Judith Demolis; cousins, Agnes Johnny and family; Claude Demolis and family, Teddy Thorpe and family, and sister-in-law, Mrs. Demi Phillips and family.

He leaves behind many close relatives and friends, including the Pelu Thomas and Strasser-King families, the Olaopa family, Khandker Hossain and family, Paul Luseni, and Ruth and Elsa Belchow.

A visitation will be held at Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, located at 11800 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904, on October 18, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. Following the visitation, a funeral service will take place at 12:00 pm at Episcopal Church of Our Savior 1700 Powder Mill Road. Silver Spring, Maryland 20903

A committal service will take place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, located at 13801 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20906, on October 20, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.