John Daniel "Skip" Johnson Jr.

John Daniel Johnson, Jr. Obituary

John was born on June 20, 1947, to “Sister” Rosie Mae Johnson (née Jackson) and Deacon J.D. Johnson Sr., in Mobile, Alabama. Weighing 14 pounds at birth, he entered this world as he lived: larger than life. Shortly after his birth, the Johnson family moved to Prichard, Alabama. 

John was blessed with innumerable strengths. Arguably his most prominent: an agile, inquisitive & thorough mind as well as a huge heart that drove his desire to resolve the problems of others. Throughout his life, John was driven to find answers to every question he encountered. He used those tools throughout his education: in 1964, at the age of 16, John graduated as Valedictorian of his class from Mattie Thomas Blount High School. That same year he left the segregated South for Los Angeles, California, and enrolled in UCLA where he had long dreamed of attending after being inspired by Jackie Robinson at an early age. In California John joined extended family members who had previously migrated to the area, and the following year, his parents moved out to Los Angeles to join him. John loved to sing in his deep and resonant tenor voice. He was a member of UCLA’s Glee Club and proudly sang at the first ever Super Bowl as part of the halftime entertainment in January 1967. During his Political Science studies at UCLA, John met and fell in love with Louise (née Watson), proposed to her on Valentine’s Day 1968, and eloped with her on August 1, 1968. John, who during this time became known as “Skip”, completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at UCLA in 1969. 

Skip loved to cook and opened a West African restaurant [So Adahosa] in Los Angeles on January 23, 1978. His library of recipes was vast and delicious, and he taught each of his children how to create his favorite meals with their own spin and unique flare. Apparently seeking additional challenges, he soon after enrolled in a graduate studies program for Marriage, Family and Child Counseling at the California Family Studies Center, affiliated with Azusa Pacific. 

Skip worked at UCLA and in private practice as a therapist. He was a voracious reader since childhood who loved history and both domestic and international politics; and was a stalwart supporter of civil rights and instilled that same sense in all of his children. Skip loved to travel (aka drive) and was always ready to take a road trip, consistently competing against himself to beat his past travel times. Skip, who had participated in the Boy Scouts as a child, became a Scoutmaster for his sons in the Boy Scouts and was consistently the only Dad present at the troop meetings for his daughters in the Girl Scouts. Skip, who by this point had begun going by his middle name, Daniel, was also a Pop Warner football coach and an avid spectator (and videographer) for his children’s football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, gymnastics, and karate events. Daniel attended countless musicals, dance performances, and concerts, and was an active participant for each of his children’s schools from preschool to graduate school, volunteering and chaperoning events and school activities whenever he could. 

 John Daniel “Skip” Johnson Jr. was called home on January 4, 2025 at 10:03 pm. 

 He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Louise, his six children, their significant others and fourteen grandchildren: John D. “Son” Johnson, III, Edward “Doc” Johnson (Danashanti; Makhana and Xallura), Ashley “Ajay” Johnson (Claudia; Axé, Amen, Aleluia, Zoila, Akeru, Aliazar), Teri “Princess” Johnson-Lewis (Dave), Charles “Buddy” Johnson (Belen; Xiomara), Onyx “Precious” Moore (A. Gerael; Mavis, Deaglan, Teagan, Ronan, Lochlan) and an ever expanding family that will continue to be loved, watched over, and guided by his spirit as he has done for so many years.

 He resided in Los Angeles, CA at the time of his passing. Arrangements are under the care of Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, CA.