William Curtis Johns

WILLIAM CURTIS JOHNS was born to Herman and Annie Hicks on Wednesday, August 20, 1930, in East Gulf, West Virginia. William was the eighth of nine children, five brothers and three sisters. As a child, he experienced living the free spirited, country life in the rural coal mining town of Beckley, West Virginia. William graduated from Byrd Prillerman High School. During his later years, he immensely enjoyed returning to Beckley to attend his school reunions and socializing with long-time friends who also grew up in coal mining towns. After high school, William moved to Washington, D.C., where several members of his West Virginia family had already settled. However, at the recommendation of one of his brothers, he relocated to Columbus, Ohio where job opportunities were better suited for young African-American men. His brother’s advice paid off when he was employed with the federal government at the Defense Supply Columbus Center (DSCC). After his brief employment, William was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War. He received an honorable discharge in 1953, after which William returned to Columbus. He was reemployed with DSCC and retired after 30 years of service. William married his sweetheart, Luria Lee. Their union of two grew into a family of six after four children, Gary, Regina, Janice, and Deanna, were born. After his first wife’s passing, he married Ruth Neely and his youngest son, William N. Johns, was born. Unfortunately, once again William experienced widowerhood. After the passing of his second wife, William remained single the remainder of his life. William was dedicated to his job and used positive work skills and traits he had learned from his eldest brother, who relentlessly worked the coal mines to provide for his own family. William was deeply committed to his family and was always a great provider. He had the gift of gardening and successfully harvested vegetables from his backyard garden for over twenty years, another genuine way he provided for his family. Throughout the sports seasons, you would find William at home, taking it easy while enjoying professional football, basketball, and baseball on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. He was indeed the handy man of his house, always fixing or replacing loose and broken things with hammer, nails, and tools. William was a member of God’s Grace Deliverance Apostolic Faith Church, where he accepted Christ Jesus as his Lord. He was a faithful member and thoroughly enjoyed feeding the homeless by participating in the Outreach Ministry. He attended church up until the time his health began to fail. William was a daily, avid reader of the Columbus Dispatch newspaper and kept abreast of local and national news, including watching CNN and FOX political analysts up through the last days of his life. He loved his family and looked forward to attending summer family reunions in Maryland and Virginia until long-distance travel became a challenge. William exhibited quiet strength. He had an easy-going manner and appreciated conversations with family, friends, and joking around with his neighborhood “buddies.” He enjoyed being surrounded by family and friends at special occasions, such as birthday celebrations, Father’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas gatherings. William met no strangers; everyone he encountered was touched by either his handsome looks, pleasant mannerisms, or genuine honesty. These were constant compliments conveyed to his children – his love displayed beautifully with all whom he met. His life motto was “Live as long as you can, just don’t get old!” On the evening of Wednesday, February 6, 2019, William peacefully departed this life at Grant Medical Center. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Vassar Johns, Herman Johns, DuBois Johns, Clarence Johns, and Clyde Johns; sisters, Beulah Diggs, Grace Johns Barrett, and Mary Inman. William was deeply loved by his family. He will be forever remembered in the hearts of his sons, Gary (Judy) Johns and William (Sharon) Johns; daughters, Regina Johns, Janice Redman, and Deanna Johns; grandchildren, Anthony (Christine) Johns, Twyla (Don) Hermance, and Danielle Johns; great grandchildren, Noah Johns, Mario Davis, MarShawn Davis, Donovan Hermance, Jayson Hermance, Roman Hermance, and Brielle Johns; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends