Johnson, James Walter (Age 62) of Washington, D.C.

OBITUARY

James Walter Johnson, more affectionately called "Diamond" was the son of the late Walter Johnson and Lillian Lucille Douglas, and was born April 29, 1950 in Aquasco, Maryland.

On Saturday, December 29, 2012 one of Gods' angels spread its wings and took flight to land at his home in Washington DC at the bedside of "Diamond". He put his hand in the angel's hand and went home to be with the Lord. He was preceded in death by his son, Shawn Martez.

"Diamond" was educated in the Prince George's County public school system where he graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in 1969 and then later served in the U.S. Army. He was employed at Chopp Co. in Brandywine, Maryland as a truck driver and also worked for Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission (MDNCPPC) at Watkins Park. Everyone would always know when the Christmas Light display was going up because "Diamond" would always complain THEN happily volunteer to help display them anyway.

"Diamond" enjoyed playing basketball on his high school team and became one of Frederick Douglass' star players. He also enjoyed playing softball. In his later years, "Diamond" loved driving around listening to WPFW radio station, "the oldies but goodies," and if you asked him where he was going his answer would be "nowhere man, just riding."

"Diamond" leaves behind to cherish his memory, his partner in life, Wanda Howell; children, Andre & Tamika Barbour; four grandchildren, D'Anundre, Armani, Andre, Jr., and Tyree Barbour; two brothers, Curtis & Charles Johnson; three sisters, Veronica & Brenda Johnson and Evelyn Proctor; one brother-in-law, Kenneth Proctor; one sister-in-law, Sylvia Johnson; three aunts, Alice Pinkney, Dorothy Makle and Virginia Douglas; five uncles, Author Johnson, Alexander, John and Raymond Douglas and Henry Pinkney; two nieces, Cynthia & Yolanda Makle; two nephews, Gregory Hall and Kristopher Makle; two great-nephews, Michael Canady and JaCoree Stennett; three great-nieces, Aleksis Canady, Leiyahna Makle and Cache Hall and a host of other relatives, cousins, friends and his extended family, the Howell's.

Viewing, 10am until time of Service, 11am, Tuesday, January 8, 2013 in the Chapel of THORNTON Funeral Home, P.A., 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, Maryland. Interment, Heritage Memorial Cemetery, Waldorf, Maryland.