| |
 |
| |
Dr.
Donald
Johnson,
prominent
Detroit
musician
passes
at age
71
By
Laydell
Wood
Harper
Tell Us
Detroit
DETROIT
(Tell Us
Det) -
Donald
Johnson,
pianist,
organist
and
educator,
passed
away
suddenly
at age
71,
March
25, 2017
at
Beaumont
Hospital
of an
apparent
heart
attack.
His wife
of 24
years,
Carolene,
says the
attack
“came
out of
nowhere”
as there
had been
no
previous
illness.
Donald
Johnson
was born
May 14,
1945 in
Mount
Vernon,
Texas
and is
the last
surviving
member
of his
immediate
family.
He
graduated
from
Lincoln
University
in
Jefferson
City,
Missouri
with a
Bachelor
of Music
in 1968
and
moved to
Detroit,
Michigan.
He began
teaching
music in
the
Detroit
Public
School
District
and
playing
piano
and
organ at
Hartford
Baptist
Church (HMBC)
under
then
pastor,
Rev.
Charles
A. Hill.
He
established
the Dino
School
of Music
where he
taught
private
students
whom he
presented
in
annual
recitals.
During
his long
association
at HMBC
Donald
Johnson
played
piano
and
Hammond
organ
and pipe
organ
for each
choir.
Donald
Johnson
became
Minister
of Music
and
directed
the
Cathedral
Choir
and
Jubilee
Chorus.
He left
this
position
to
pursue
advanced
degrees
at the
University
of
Michigan,
earning
a
Masters
of Music
in 2004
and
Doctorate
in
Church
Music in
2010.
Dr.
Johnson
considered
the
capstone
of his
life
going
back to
Texas
and
marrying
Carolene,
August
8, 1992.
He along
with her
large
family
of
siblings
had
grown up
together
in
Wichita
Falls,
Texas,
and he
served
in the
music
ministry
of
Eastside
Baptist
Church
under
the
pastorate
of Rev.
D.P.
Williams,
Carolene’s
father.
The
families
were
always
very
close
and
attended
the same
schools.
The
marriage
of
Donald
and
Carolene
was
considered
in
divine
order.
Donald
leaves
to mourn
him his
wife,
Carolene
and her
four
living
brothers
and
three
sisters.
His
homegoing
services
will be
at
Hartford
Memorial
Baptist
Church,
Saturday,
April
1st,
Family
Hour at
10am and
Funeral
at 11am.
In
special
tribute
to Dr.
Johnson
members
from all
the
choirs
will
combined
to
provide
the
music
ministry.
Dr.
Charles
G.
Adams,
pastor,
will
preach
the
Eulogy.
Burial
will be
at Grand
Lawn
Cemetery
followed
by the
family
and
friends
dinner
at HMBC.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
I
HI TECH NEWS
I
SPORTS
I
