Obituary of Edward Johnson

Edward "Jake" Johnson was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania to Henrietta Ware Johnson and Nathaniel Johnson on January 19, 1939. He was the eighth child of ten children. The family moved to the historic Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was a toddler. By the ripe young age of 10, under the mentorship of former Negro League Baseball Star, Theodore Roosevelt Page also known as Ted Page who was the first black proprietor of a bowling alley in the Northeast area of the country, he started his first job. He set up duck pins at Meadow Lanes within walking distance from his home. Ted took him under his wing and became his sponsor, which enabled him to get his own bowling equipment and travel as a pinsetter to different cities wherever the teams bowled. One of his tournaments was featured on television. With this, he gained more experience as a bowler and bowling became his true passion. He's bowled numerous 300s, a perfect score, in league and pot bowling. His first 300 was at Crawley Lanes here in the Philadelphia area. Most recently in 2022, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Greater Philadelphia Bowling Senate. He met his wife to be, Beverly Humphreys, at Meadow Lanes Bowling Alley where her parents also bowled. He and Beverly dated for several years, fell deeply in love, and were married on March 25, 1967, at Christian Chapel AME Church in Penn Hills, PA. After marriage, God led him to Philadelphia where they raised their children in Cheltenham, PA. They have three sons, Darrick, Aaron, and Brian, and one daughter, Angela, their angel. Jake attended the Pittsburgh Public School system. Later, he enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces, serving for four years, with an honorable discharge. He valued the importance of education and was an avid reader, well versed in Black and African history, and dedicated to knowledge of self. Education was so important, he routinely sat with each of his children teaching them math. Ultimately, this led to all of his children attending the Pennsylvania State University and receiving postgraduate degrees in their respective fields. He was employed as a welder, worked in construction, and worked as manager of Washington Lanes bowling alley in Mt. Airy, PA. He retired in 2005 as a Welder from Boiler Erection Repair in Ambler. He was always a hard worker to provide for his family, and sometimes traveled from Philadelphia to New York to work. Family was important to Jake. He was there to help family members in times of crises, celebrate joyous occasions, provide a place to stay, give financial assistance for tuition, and provide mentoring, support and encouraging words. This was embodied through his character, strong family values, and commitment to lifting family members up, thus becoming a beloved patriarch among his family, and friends. Family Reunions were important to Jake, and he strongly encouraged his immediate and other family members to attend. Jake had a special gift of talking about his family history at every Family Reunion. In over 60 years, he never missed one. He loved his family! Jake was a devoted member of Canaan Baptist Church in Philadelphia for many decades. He loved his Canaan church family. He studied the Bible under the leadership of Reverend Myers and with his encouragement wrote lessons and presented with his wife, Beverly. He registered for and completed special Bible classes at Canaan. At times, Jake also co-taught the Mature Adult Bible Classes with his wife. He traveled with his wife, many places such as Brazil, Senegal, West Africa, the Gambia, Curacao, Alaska, the California coast, several national parks, and enjoyed a road trip from Philadelphia to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he drove the entire way. Jake loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild. He was so proud of their educational and athletic achievements as well as their musical and artistic talents. He intentionally tried to leave a legacy of the importance of education, hard work, and love. For example, at the celebration of his last birthday on January 19, 2024, he expressed to his grandchildren the importance of living a legacy of love and how important it is to demonstrate love by helping one another. He emphasized building a solid foundation, establishing strong family connections, the value of education, and to be a leader in all of your endeavors. He also provided spiritual guidance to his children, including giving each one an African Heritage Bible and sending letters of advice on how to live a Godly life. Jake loved to laugh and had a great sense of humor. He always had others laughing with his witty quips. We will always remember Jake and the special gifts he had for giving advice, and sharing his lifelong wisdom and experiences to help others at their special time of need or crisis. His family and friends valued his opinions. Nothing was insurmountable to Jake! Proverbs 24:16, "for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes." Preceding him in death are his parents, Nathaniel, and Henrietta Johnson, five sisters, Ethel Gaddie, Wilda Bailey, Jessee Strover, Henrietta Harris, and Anita Turner, and two brothers, Nathaniel, and Robert (Bobby). He is survived by his wife, Beverly, his four children, Darrick (Monique), Aaron (Dawn), Brian, and Angela (Derek), his two sisters, Bertha Mosley and Joann Monroe, twelve grandchildren, Angelique, Nia, Aminah, Ayana, Nailah, Andre, Aaron, Asante, Malachi, Osei, Zahara, Ciana, and one great-grandchild, Angel, brother-in-law, Darryl Humphreys (Quita), and a host of nieces and nephews.