Reginald Patrick Murray Johnson

Reginald (Reggie) Patrick Murray Johnson was born in St. Louis, Missouri to the late Mr. Cornell Murray and Ms. Willie Mae Johnson Dunn on July 29, 1952. Reggie spent his early childhood living with his grandfather Willie E. Johnson, Sr. on Cora Street in St. Louis.  Reggie attended catholic school as a youngster and ascribed to being catholic until his teenage years. As a teenager, Reggie was called “red eyes” because of his fierceness on the football field. Reggie played baseball and football.  He received his high school diploma from De Andres high school in St. Louis.    

After completing high school, Reggie attended Gannon University in Erie, PA (majoring in History) but then transferred to the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri where he completed his college education. After college, Reggie fell in love and married Juanita Blackshear in 1973. The two met during a catholic summer camp while in grade school. They became friends and stayed connected. While married, he started a job at Westinghouse making transformer machine parts. He became a Forman during this time. His marriage to Juanita ended in 1981.

Reggie’s faith in God grew stronger and he confessed his love for Jesus and begin living the Christian life. Reggie moved to Maryland. While working for District Photo, Reggie’s eyes connected with Sepelda Carr. The two became well acquainted, dated, fell in love, and married in 1985. Together, they have two boys: Kieran Johnson (1989) and Kendell Johnson (1998). As a family they became members of Suitland Road Baptist Church where Reggie was actively involved in teaching Sunday school, ushering, and mission work. Reggie had the opportunity to be a part of a mission’s ministry called C.E.M.I and served as a missionary while in Uganda and Guyana. His love for missions and the Word of God grew while serving in this ministry. Reggie loved to talk about God and the scriptures.

Reggie loved to watch and discuss sports, especially with his sons. He was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Boston Celtics, L.A. Dodgers, and New York Mets.  He and his sons would often attend baseball games together. Reggie used sports to bond with his boys. At some point in his career, he worked for Suitland high school in Maryland as a teacher and coach. He loved working with students and helping them reach their full potential both in learning and sports. He took special interest in and connected with Micquan Waters like a son. Sadly, for Micquan, that meant he enjoyed the same discipline measures as Kieran and Kendell. Reggie never met a stranger – He loved to talk.

Reggie was preceded in death by both of his parents. He leaves to cherish his memory, two sons: Kieran Johnson (Nicole) of Tavares, FL and Kendell Johnson of Clinton, MD; two brothers: Sam Dunn (Cheryl) of St. Louis, MO and Kevin Dunn of Mesa, AZ; three sisters: Wanda Dunn, DeAnna Dunn, and Joyce Thomas, all of St. Louis, MO; one grandchild: Sydney Johnson, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.