JOHNSON, CHARLES A.

A funeral service took place Feb. 9 at Old Bergen Church, Jersey City, for Charles A. Johnson, Jr., 36. He was born in Monrovia, Liberia, to Charles J. Johnson and Rosalyn Holt-Johnson. Chucky, as he was affectionately known, dedicated his life to serving God and his family. In 1996, when Charles was 14 years old, he struggled through the brutal civil wars in Liberia. Through this struggle, Charles saw a need to protect children, the most vulnerable people in our society. Consequently, he became the executive director of Voice of the Future. Charles spent many years as the organization’s executive director where he advocated for children afflicted by the horrors of war. Charles’ advocacy open doors with UNICEF where he helped set child rights standards that were adopted by the government of Liberia. Charles came to the United States in 2008 and immediately began serving the marginalized in his new community. Later, Charles enrolled at Capella University where he obtained his Master of Science degree in General Counseling, with a focus on mental health and substance abuse. Charles became a Ph.D. candidate in Social and Community Service. He was working on his dissertation the final hurdle to becoming Dr. Charles A. Johnson, Jr. In 2012, Charles became a member of the St. John’s Lodge 744. At the time of his passing, he was SP. Charles A. Johnson Jr. 32nd Degree, Senior Warden of St. John’s Lodge #744 and Grand Junior Warden of the King Hiram Grand Council-AASR Mason State of New Jersey. On March 31st, 2013, Charles made his service to God official; he was ordained as Deacon of the United Christian Assembly Church, Inc. He held the title of Chairman of Deacons from 2014 until his untimely passing. On Aug. 3, 2013, Charles and Emerlyn became one. As of his departure, Charles worked as Senior Program Supervisor with Edwin Gould Children and Family Services, where he had been since 2011. At work, Charles touched the lives of children, advocating for a better life and future for them. He worked with parents to help them break unhealthy cycles and develop healthy environments for their children. He is survived by his wife Emerlyn Deline-Johnson, their two sons (Charles Aubrey Ofa Alexander Johnson and Chad Caden Chaingar Emerson Johnson), his mother, his siblings, his uncles and aunts, and a host of other relatives and friends around the globe. Services arranged by the Watson Mortuary Service, Jersey City.