A farewell to my Uncle Eric who died too soon and will not have the opportunity to vote for Barack Obama nor witness him elected POTUS.
Eric A. Johnson died on Friday, March 28 2008. After living 83 years he went peacefully in his sleep. Mr. Johnson was a member of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and briefly lived in England before settling in Hartford in 1946. He was part of a dwindling group of immigrants from Jamaica who came to Connecticut in the 1940s to work on the local tobacco farms. Like so many other immigrants who came to the area during that time via the Farm Workers Program, he forged friendships that have lasted throughout his lifetime. He, as well as others found jobs at area companies, purchased and worked on their homes and built their lives. He contributed to the West Indian community via the social clubs and lodges of which he was a member. Mr. Johnson was employed by Chandler Evans where he worked as a machinist for thirty-five years and retired as a skilled toolmaker. He was a member of the Caribbean American Society of Hartford and the International Order of Mechanics, Utopia Lodge No. 5. Although he was not someone who wished to be in the limelight, as the saying goes, “his word was his bond,” and he expected the same of others.
Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife Minnie Blackshear, whom he married in 1948, as well as their children Alric and Gary Johnson of Hartford and Deborah Johnson Dixon of Bloomfield; two other members of the Johnson household were his granddaughter, Teresa Butler Franklin of Delaware and niece, Novlette White of West Hartford. He is also survived by additional family members from marriage and birth. Through marriage, Stanley Dixon and Danny Franklin; step-son Charles Campbell, New London. Grandchildren Christopher Johnson of South Carolina; Aaron Johnson, New Britain; Deanna and David Dixon, Bloomfield; Gwendolyn, Perry and Dana Franklin of Delaware; great-grandchildren, Kywanna Harrison, Kaia Johnson and Carrera Makins all of South Carolina. He is survived by his sisters Monica and Evelyn as well as brothers Kenneth and Egbert Johnson, all of Jamaica, W.I. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. In addition to his parents, Rebecca and Thelophilius Johnson he was preceded in death by his sister Sylvia Johnson and step-daughter Eva Belle Butler.
We would like to thank the nurses, social workers, musicians, therapists and homecare providers of Connecticut Hospice Care for their attentive care and support. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Eula Lee Chambers for providing exceptional care to Eric Johnson in his final days.
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