Birth Date:
1968-12-09
Graduation year:
1987
Deceased Date:
2021-08-22
Obituary:
Just like hidden treasure full of gold and diamonds, Gregory Van Johnson grew up to become a man full of
compassion and loving kindness, and he had a memory like an elephant. That boy could memorize scripture and
recite it back to you like nobody’s business. I already picked up the phone several times this week to call him for
advice because I’m used to him Always Being There when I need him. Losing Gregory Van is like losing your car
keys. You just take for granted that they will always be there Until You Lose Them and you can’t find them.
Brother Gregory had a strong concern for the well being of others sometimes even to the point of losing track of himself. Just like his mother, he was accepting and nurturing, with a natural capacity for bringing people together.
As a pastor, Brother Gregory and many people in his immediate circle have experienced victory. After the late founders, Eld. Grady, Johnson, Sr. and Missionary Barbara Jean Johnson, Brother Gregory was appointed pastor of the Holy City Church in September 2017. In January 2018, he was appointed jurisdictional state Minister of Music as well as jurisdictional Chairman of AIM. And in March of 2021, Brother Gregory was appointed Superintendent of the Dr. Grady G. Johnson District and 1st Administrative Assistant to the Jurisdictional Bishop.
Further, under his leadership, Mother Winona Usher was appointed the Jurisdictional Supervisor of Missouri Southeast 3rd Jurisdiction and Sisters Latressa King and Bernice Hamilton became missionaries.
As a businessman, Gregory traveled the lonely highways day and night hauling truck tires and filling up his gas tanks at truck stops all along the way. When you called Greg, the first thing you needed to ask was “Where are you?” because you never knew if he was passing through a small town in Kansas or picking up a load in a big
city in Texas. As a tire man, he traveled with his business partner and friend Mister Marshall Lucas from Atlanta to Tokyo to Amsterdam to San Jose, Costa Rica. Gregory could steer a truck and trailer backwards in reverse as well as he could drive it forward. But wherever he was in the world, he was always a phone call away and if he could help it, by Saturday, he was on his way back to Cairo for Sunday Morning Service.
Brother Gregory was a vital part of his family unit. He loved his wife, Florene, who he married March 18, 2006, and he loved his children and especially his grandchildren. Gregory was a loyal and devoted son to his parents,
Grady and Barbara, for all of their lives. He raised and fathered his children in his own image and they have grown up to be just as special as he was. As a brother, he taught his baby sister Kay-Kay (Shalla) how to tie her shoes and ride a bike without training wheels. He moved his older sister, Geraldine, across the country back and forth. And he was a genius at consulting his oldest brother, Grady, on unorthodox ways of getting out of sticky situations. But his youngest brother, Andrae, was his jewel. I hardly ever remember talking to Gregory without him fussing about Andrae, or talking to Andrae without him bringing up his knucklehead brother, Greg.
Each and every one of you certainly know that Brother Gregory had an intelligent wit, a humor, a comedic way that was funny and ticklish. Gregory understood that the way in which a message is
delivered strongly influences how it is received. A message, a word of wisdom, even a warning is only worth something if it is received and understood by its listeners. And he used his power as a messenger of God’s word to communicate in a manner that people could understand, accept and relate to and that ultimately made them laugh. For laughter is good for the soul.
Please know, dear church family, family of relatives and family of friends that with Brother Greg`s love and
support, you all have made it across the finish line together, because Brother Greg understood the value of
UNITY. He has left all of us with positive, abundant, and optimistic feelings. Take great pleasure in knowing that
each of you is part of his winning team. This calls for a celebration, a toast, a round of applause, thanks to God
and acknowledgment for all the goodness Gregory brought into this world.
With these words in mind, we are thankful and full of gratitude.
First Administrative Assistant, District Superintendent, Pastor, Businessman, Husband, Father, Uncle, Nephew,
Brother, Son, Cousin and Friend Gregory Van Johnson leaves behind to mourn and rejoice:
a devoted and loving wife, First Lady, Madame Florene (Hall) Johnson;
6 children: Dr. Angelica Monique Johnson, MD, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass; Gregory Van (and Yazzmin)
Johnson, Jr., Cape Girardeau, MO; Kwajalyn Janice and LeMarquis Dean, Sikeston, MO; Khouri TreSean Powell,
Cape Girardeau, MO; DeMario Trentez Lane, Poplar Bluff, MO; Chelsie Amish Lane, Sikeston, MO;
9 grandchildren: Kalani Dean, Kashad Dean, Kalayah Dean, Jeremiah Grady Johnson (deceased), Trenez Lane,
Zyrion Lane, Rylan Parham, DeMar Lane and Trenae Lane;
5 siblings: Gloria Love, Geraldine Johnson, Grady Johnson, Jr., Shalla and Jerry Wimberly, Joyce and Corey
Brann and Andrae Gamaliel Lamont Johnson.
Did you know some of Gregory’s favorite things…?
Favorite truck: F450 dully
Favorite TV Series: Star Trek and Batman
Favorite movie: Coming to America
Favorite restaurant: China Buffett
Favorite car: Maybach
