Elder Eugene Johnson

Elder Eugene Johnson, Pastor Emeritus of the historic Saint Annis Primitive Baptist Church of DeLand, Florida and a longtime resident of Hillsborough County, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, September 9, 2022. A Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at Saint Annis Primitive Baptist Church, 502 S. Orange Avenue, DeLand, FL 32720.  A Visitation will be on Friday, September 16, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606.  A Homegoing Celebration will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022, 11:00 a.m., at Greater New Salem Primitive Baptist Church, 1605 N. Nebraska Avenue, Tampa, FL 33602, Elder Wilbert Ridgley Jr., Eulogist. Interment will be held Sunday, September 18, 2022, 12:00 p.m.  in Garden of Memories Cemetery. MASK RECOMMENDED.

Elder Johnson was born in Havana, Florida to the late William and Ezella Johnson on April 8, 1942.  He was educated in the public schools of Gadsden County, graduating in 1960 from Carter-Parramore High School in Quincy.  He attended Florida A&M University in Tallahassee and later moved to Hillsborough County, where he graduated from Southern Baptist Seminary in Tampa and was a dedicated employee of Swift Premium and Unisource until his retirement.

Elder Johnson accepted Christ on January 9, 1970, at the New Salem Primitive Baptist Church in Tampa, under the pastorate of Elder R.H. Howard.  In 1980, Elder Johnson was licensed as an associate minister at New Salem, and in December 1986, he was called to pastor the Saint Annis Primitive Baptist Church in DeLand, Florida.  On February 23, 2014, after 27 years of faithful service, Elder Johnson officially retired as Pastor of St. Annis.

Elder Johnson was preceded in death by: his parents, William and Ezella Johnson; siblings, Erma Lou Brown, Clifford Johnson, Beulah Johnson, Solomon Johnson, Willie G. Johnson, Eunice Bukine, Lillie Jean Strawter, Geneva Baker, Leola Johnson, and James Johnson; and son, Pastor Tony Jenkins. 

He leaves to cherish his fond memory: his loving and devoted wife, Nekeva Johnson; children, Reginald Johnson Sr., Cheryl Johnson Reed (Edward), Veronica Johnson, Lennard Jenkins (Letitisha), Virgil Johnson (Suzette), Aldreshia Boykin, Andre Boykin Jr., Jumetris Anderson, and Everett Hodge III; 24 grandchildren, Reginald, Brittany, Chervonica (Phillip), Shantana, Cadedra, Veaundriss, Virgil, Valicia, Vaniece, Vanekea, Valencia, Antonio, Artaveus, Kayshia, Tiffany, Candi, Jamari, Nekera, Jermaine, Khalil, Ayden, Julianna, Keloni, and Treasure; 36 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; mother-in-law, Betty Mouling; sisters-in-law, Tonya Hamilton-Fulton, Pamela Reeves, Lashondra Williams, and April Hamilton; brother-in-law, Laurise Hamilton III (Lakelia); godchildren, Elder Bruce and Martina Strange; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and loving and devoted friends.

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