Obituary for Clifton Earl Johnson
Clifton Earl Johnson was born January 31, 1949, in Pineville, Louisiana to the union of Clarence E. Johnson, Sr. and Maggie M. Johnson. He was the second son of three children. Clifton attended church regularly and was baptized in 1954. He attended New Zion Missionary Baptist under the leadership of Rev. Gilbert Harrison. Later in life, the Johnson family moved their membership to Big Mount Zion Baptist Church in Colfax, Louisiana under the leadership of Rev. Howard Ellis.
During his early childhood education, Clifton attended Grant Parrish Training School, which was renamed Mary E. Graham High School. He later graduated and received his diploma on May 20, 1966. Clifton understood the meaning of education and also had a strong adoration for the arts, all of which led him to receive his Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts degree from Grambling State University of Louisiana on May 24, 1970. He would later receive his Standard Secondary Teaching Credential from California State University Bakersfield on June 29, 1979 and his Masters in Administration from California State University Bakersfield in 1989.
While attending Grambling State University, Clifton met the love of his life, Lena Washington. They dated throughout their college years and later moved together to Bakersfield, CA in August of 1971. They married that same year on October 7th. To this beautiful union, two sons, Chephren and Cliffe, were born.
Clifton was a proud member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and was initiated into Delta Sigma Chapter on December 8, 1967, at Grambling State University. Later he was a founding member of Kappa Eta Lambda #530 in Bakersfield, CA. He served in numerous positions within the chapter and his community.
Aside from his many years of professional duties and accomplished community service, Clifton’s most cherished positions held were that of being a loving husband, devoted father and proud grandfather. He loved spending his free time with his sweetheart, Lena as they traveled cross-country to Louisiana or Tennessee to visit family, or throughout California with their RV club, California Capitals Bay Area Liners (CCBAL). When Chephren and Cliffe were younger, many early morning trips were taken to the beach for the weekend.
Clifton enjoyed playing golf, sculpting, painting, and sketching, as well as restoring old family photos. Tinkering in computers was one of his many past-times as well. He also loved to sit and watch his grandchildren run around the house with their home-made superhero capes or hear about their adventures in school or sports. Clifton and Lena would sit and laugh about catching themselves watching cartoons long after the grandkids had already gone home. His sons always lovingly called him “Pop” and joked around with him about his infamous double-decker peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. His grandchildren called him “Papa” and always knew he’d slip them some money and give them a hug with a “See ya later grandson” or “Love you Miah” whenever it was time to part ways. He proudly listened to his granddaughter Jerai sing the National Anthem at the Bakersfield Blaze baseball games, and often encouraged her to pursue her love of music. Clifton adored his family and was always there to give sound advice and insight on life and how to maneuver through it.
Clifton is preceded in death by his father, Clarence E. Johnson, Sr., his mother, Maggie Mae Johnson, and his sister, Mozetta Ophelia Washington.
Clifton leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife and best friend of over 51 years, Lena; Eldest son Chephren of Bakersfield, CA and his significant other Cryss; son Cliffe and his wife Desiree of Brentwood, CA; two brothers, Clarence E. Johnson, Jr. of Dayton, OH and Wilfred L. Johnson and his wife Linda Sue of Maysville, NC; a special sister-in-law Marie Perry of Stockbridge, GA, four grandchildren, Jerai Symone, Clifton Isaiah, Amiah Nicole and Chephren Isaac and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
During his early childhood education, Clifton attended Grant Parrish Training School, which was renamed Mary E. Graham High School. He later graduated and received his diploma on May 20, 1966. Clifton understood the meaning of education and also had a strong adoration for the arts, all of which led him to receive his Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts degree from Grambling State University of Louisiana on May 24, 1970. He would later receive his Standard Secondary Teaching Credential from California State University Bakersfield on June 29, 1979 and his Masters in Administration from California State University Bakersfield in 1989.
While attending Grambling State University, Clifton met the love of his life, Lena Washington. They dated throughout their college years and later moved together to Bakersfield, CA in August of 1971. They married that same year on October 7th. To this beautiful union, two sons, Chephren and Cliffe, were born.
Clifton was a proud member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and was initiated into Delta Sigma Chapter on December 8, 1967, at Grambling State University. Later he was a founding member of Kappa Eta Lambda #530 in Bakersfield, CA. He served in numerous positions within the chapter and his community.
Aside from his many years of professional duties and accomplished community service, Clifton’s most cherished positions held were that of being a loving husband, devoted father and proud grandfather. He loved spending his free time with his sweetheart, Lena as they traveled cross-country to Louisiana or Tennessee to visit family, or throughout California with their RV club, California Capitals Bay Area Liners (CCBAL). When Chephren and Cliffe were younger, many early morning trips were taken to the beach for the weekend.
Clifton enjoyed playing golf, sculpting, painting, and sketching, as well as restoring old family photos. Tinkering in computers was one of his many past-times as well. He also loved to sit and watch his grandchildren run around the house with their home-made superhero capes or hear about their adventures in school or sports. Clifton and Lena would sit and laugh about catching themselves watching cartoons long after the grandkids had already gone home. His sons always lovingly called him “Pop” and joked around with him about his infamous double-decker peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. His grandchildren called him “Papa” and always knew he’d slip them some money and give them a hug with a “See ya later grandson” or “Love you Miah” whenever it was time to part ways. He proudly listened to his granddaughter Jerai sing the National Anthem at the Bakersfield Blaze baseball games, and often encouraged her to pursue her love of music. Clifton adored his family and was always there to give sound advice and insight on life and how to maneuver through it.
Clifton is preceded in death by his father, Clarence E. Johnson, Sr., his mother, Maggie Mae Johnson, and his sister, Mozetta Ophelia Washington.
Clifton leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife and best friend of over 51 years, Lena; Eldest son Chephren of Bakersfield, CA and his significant other Cryss; son Cliffe and his wife Desiree of Brentwood, CA; two brothers, Clarence E. Johnson, Jr. of Dayton, OH and Wilfred L. Johnson and his wife Linda Sue of Maysville, NC; a special sister-in-law Marie Perry of Stockbridge, GA, four grandchildren, Jerai Symone, Clifton Isaiah, Amiah Nicole and Chephren Isaac and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.