Pop

Many call him "Pop" and some call him "Pop Pop." I've called him both, but I've also called him "Dad" - my loving father, William "Bill" H. Johnson. On the evening of May 11, 2010, Pop rested peacefully with Mom by his side and passed on to wake up in the arms of Jesus.



  1. A Picture Gallery

    Pop Through the Years

    William Herman Johnson
    August 17, 1929 - May 11, 2010




  2. Boyhood

  3. Bill in front with sister Hilda, mother Gertrude, and sister Jerrie in back

  4. Denton High School
    Class of 1946
    Pop/Bill is on the 4th from
    the left on the front row

  5. Pop/Bill is on the far right

  6. Navy Picture




  7. Sailor

  8. May 5, 1947
    (Pop on the left)


    Guam
    Navy Sea Bees
    (CBs - Construction Batallion)






  9. On the Ship
    (Pop is between the two men waving)

  10. Pop went to school on the GI Bill.
    He is second from right.


    Bill, college graduate, with his mother
    June 1955



  11. Bill and his mother

  12. Wedding Day Vows - June 7, 1964


    Wedding Party






  13. With Parents (left to right): Otto W. Fisher, Hazel E. Fisher, Carolyn F. Johnson, William H. Johnson, Gertrude Johnson, and Herman Edwin Johnson


  14. Wedding Day - June 7, 1964


  15. Wedding Day - June 7, 1964
    Mr. & Mrs. William H. Johnson

  16. Wedding Cake


    World's Fair 1964

  17. Newlyweds

  18. Laughing


  19. Expecting

  20. Pop with his oldest son
    Neil Fisher Johnson


    Family: With Mom and Dad (left to right): Billy, Carolyn, Jamie, Liz, and Neil



  21. Pop with his children celebrating


  22. The Johnsons in Fall 1991.
    Front: Jamie, Bill, Carolyn.
    Back: Dad, Mom, Neil


  23. Liz with Dad on her wedding day


  24. Dad kisses Liz on her wedding day

  25. Siblings: Hilda Cranford, Bill Johnson, Jerrie Lomax


    Mom and Pop with my brother Bill

  26. Fishing

  27. Papa J with Kyle


    Papa J with Katie

  28. Beach in 1990s



    Myrtle Beach in 2000

  29. At our wedding June 30, 2001


    Calabash, NC

  30. Infant Leona

  31. Playing at the Beach


    Siblings (9/26/2004): Jerrie Lomax, Dad, Hilda Cranford





  32. Bill, Neil, Mom, Dad, Jamie (me)

  33. Dad and Mom smooch






  34. Baby Leona

  35. Holding Pippin and watching Haven

  36. Mom and Pop
    Tiki Jim's at Myrtle Beach

  37. Grandkids



    Walking the Shore

  38. Mom & Pop



    Pop - Advantage Staff Picture




  39. Mom & Pop

  40. Happy 80th Birthday!

  41. At the Beach

    With grandchildren at his 80th birthday (August 2009)




  42. Front: Carolyn, Pop, Jamie
    Back: Bill, Mom, Neil
    August 2009

  43. Arthur and Pop
    October 2009

  44. Pop and Mom with Avery
    November 2009


    Christmas 2009 Grandkids


  45. Mom and Pop with Avery
    February 2010






  46. Mom kissing Pop :)


  47. Pop with Avery at the wedding of Chris and Tracy Bourne on April 10, 2010






  48. Dad, Mom, Chris & Tracy Bourne
    on April 10, 2010


  49. Pop with Avery on May 8, 2010


  50. Pop, Mom, Leona, Arthur, and Avery

    Holding Pop's Hand - 10 May 2010







  51. My Father's Hand



  52. A life well-lived





  53. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

    He makes me lie down in green pastures,
              he leads me beside quiet waters,

    he restores my soul.
              He guides me in paths of righteousness
              for his name's sake.

    Even though I walk
              through the valley of the shadow of death,
              I will fear no evil,
              for you are with me;
              your rod and your staff,
              they comfort me.

    You prepare a table before me
              in the presence of my enemies.
              You anoint my head with oil;
              my cup overflows.

    Surely goodness and love will follow me
              all the days of my life,
              and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
              forever.


    ~ Psalm 23

Jamie Johnson
May 5, 2010

Father and Son

His hands are swollen.
His feet unsteady.
His tired demeanor
Says he is ready.

I am his arms
As I put his pajamas on,
An act of service
To father from son.

His frame is weak.
Balding is his head.
I slowly lift his legs
And tuck him into bed.

I lay out his book,
his water, and phone.
I say, "I love you, Dad."
He says, "I love you, too, son."

He drifts off to sleep.
A snore begins to drone -
Bittersweet to be there
Father and son.


His hands are tiny,
His feet unsteady.
His silly demeanor
Says he is not ready.

Yet, I am his arms
As I put his pajamas on,
An act of service
From father to son.

His frame is small.
Soft is his head.
He laughs and giggles
As I tuck him into bed.

I lay out his book,
car, truck, and toy phone.
I say, "I love you, boy."
"Love you, too," laughs the son.

He drifts off to sleep
With his toys, his fun,
A bittersweet contrast -
Father and son.


My hands were tiny.
My feet once unsteady.
Through different demeanors,
At times I was ready.

He was my arms
As he put my pajamas on,
An act of service
From father to son.

My frame was small.
Soft was his head.
He laughed and I giggled
As he tucked me into bed.

He read me a book,
and made rubber band guns.
He said, "I love you, boy."
"I love you, too," said the son.

I drift off to sleep
With my toys, and my fun,
A sweet memory to keep
of Father and son.


His hands shall be new.
His feet will be steady.
He has kept the faith.
I know he is ready.

He will be lifted up,
Clothed with Christ on,
As he sees face-to-face
The Father and Son.

His frame will be healed.
God will lift up his head.
He will laugh and leap,
No need to go to bed.

He read the Good Book,
and believed in the One.
Who'll say, "Enter where I've prepared.
My faithful servant, well done."

I drift off to sleep
As prayers flow to that One.
Knowing Dad knows the Spirit,
the Father and Son.


One day, Dad will sleep
And to Heaven ascend.
Daddy, I will be there
With the Father and Son.

The Holy Spirit lives in you.
You haven't lost, but won.
He lives in me, too,
The Father and Son.

The grief will be temporary
We'll converse again
As we both stand with the Spirit,
Father and Son.

Pop said, "Be there."
Do you know Jesus, the One
Way to God the Spirit,
Father and Son?

I drift off to sleep
As tears flow to the One.
This is only the beginning -
Father and son.


~ written by Jamie Johnson, reflecting on a visit with his Dad on a mid-April evening where he tucked his father into bed, then after driving home, tucked his son into bed.

© 2010 James Arthur Johnson

 


illustration by Eleanor Fortescue Brickdale

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