Obituary for Ester Lee Johnson Sr.
Ester Johnson Sr. was born in Cairo, IL on September 27, 1936 to the union of Wesley Johnson & Mary (Jones) Johnson. When Ester was a toddler his mother married Oliver S. Hemphill Sr. and together Oliver &
Mary raised Ester along with 11 other siblings.
Ester joined the U.S. Armed Forces at the age of 16 and attended boot camp in Fort Knox, KY. He served as a private 2nd class in Kaiserslautern, Germany and he was honorably discharged after serving 3 years. Ester returned to Toledo and married Rose Hooker-Johnson and to that union 1 child was born, Kenneth. He later married Louise Knowles-Johnson and to that union 3 children were born, LaTonya, Ester Jr. and LaTasha.
Ester was adventurous and lived is several locations over the years, such as, Chicago, IL, Atlanta, GA, Houston, TX and Columbus, OH before settling in Toledo. Ester’s work history includes Toledo Pickling & Steel, Lavendolf Roofing and BFI Industries.
Ester was baptized at an early age at Calvary Baptist Church by Pastor J.A. Dotson. He has been a member at several churches over the course of his life and is a current member of New United Church. Ester had a
great voice and was an active member of several quartets until his health prevented him from doing so.
Ester was preceded in death by his parents, stepson, Willie “Bernard” Knowles, daughter, LaTonya Johnson-Heard, brothers, Oliver Hemphill Jr and Larry Hemphill; sisters, Doris Hemphill and Ella Butler; grandsons, Desmond Johnson and Devin Johnson.
Ester leaves to cherish his memories, wife, Louise; sons, Kenneth (Lila) Johnson of Toledo, OH and Ester (Dawn) Johnson Jr. of Columbus, OH; stepson, Reginald (Peggy) Knowles of Toledo, OH; daughter, LaTasha (Jacob) Diggs and stepdaughter, Sylvia Hooker both of Toledo, OH; 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; brothers, James (Alane) Hemphill of Charlotte, NC and Ronald Hemphill of Seattle WA; sisters, Kathryn Mitchell and Patricia Poston of Toledo, OH, Sharon Savage, Nedra Davis and Pamela (Jimi) Dillon all of Houston TX. He also leaves an aunt, an uncle, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Mary raised Ester along with 11 other siblings.
Ester joined the U.S. Armed Forces at the age of 16 and attended boot camp in Fort Knox, KY. He served as a private 2nd class in Kaiserslautern, Germany and he was honorably discharged after serving 3 years. Ester returned to Toledo and married Rose Hooker-Johnson and to that union 1 child was born, Kenneth. He later married Louise Knowles-Johnson and to that union 3 children were born, LaTonya, Ester Jr. and LaTasha.
Ester was adventurous and lived is several locations over the years, such as, Chicago, IL, Atlanta, GA, Houston, TX and Columbus, OH before settling in Toledo. Ester’s work history includes Toledo Pickling & Steel, Lavendolf Roofing and BFI Industries.
Ester was baptized at an early age at Calvary Baptist Church by Pastor J.A. Dotson. He has been a member at several churches over the course of his life and is a current member of New United Church. Ester had a
great voice and was an active member of several quartets until his health prevented him from doing so.
Ester was preceded in death by his parents, stepson, Willie “Bernard” Knowles, daughter, LaTonya Johnson-Heard, brothers, Oliver Hemphill Jr and Larry Hemphill; sisters, Doris Hemphill and Ella Butler; grandsons, Desmond Johnson and Devin Johnson.
Ester leaves to cherish his memories, wife, Louise; sons, Kenneth (Lila) Johnson of Toledo, OH and Ester (Dawn) Johnson Jr. of Columbus, OH; stepson, Reginald (Peggy) Knowles of Toledo, OH; daughter, LaTasha (Jacob) Diggs and stepdaughter, Sylvia Hooker both of Toledo, OH; 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; brothers, James (Alane) Hemphill of Charlotte, NC and Ronald Hemphill of Seattle WA; sisters, Kathryn Mitchell and Patricia Poston of Toledo, OH, Sharon Savage, Nedra Davis and Pamela (Jimi) Dillon all of Houston TX. He also leaves an aunt, an uncle, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.