Edward F. Johnson

80, of Providence, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2021. He was the son of the late Franklin Edward Johnson, stepson of the late Bertrum H. Wallace Sr. and Ruby Marie Trent Wallace. Predeceased by his Grandmother Marjorie Trent, his Grandfather James Antrum, his ex-wife Marilyn Maddox-Shogren and Son Adam Taylor Johnson Sr.

Ed was born into a family of sharecroppers on April 29th,  Cumberland County, Farmville, Virginia. He moved to Rhode Island when he was eight years old and attended Nathaniel Greene Middle school.  He went on to attend Hope High School and joined the track and field program winning countless medals before graduating in 1959. He married Marilyn Maddox in May 1964 and had 4 children.

He worked at Rhode Island Hospital in the Orthopedic and Prosthetics department until the 1980s. During his time at RIH, he received trophies for the bowling league, softball team, squash team. He was an avid Racquet ballplayer and was well known as “Fast Eddy” on the court to his peers. In 80’s Edward became a Lineman for New England Telephone after putting himself through the Rhode Island School of Electronics and joined the phone company Southwestern Bell. Through many company changes, he retired from Verizon in 2002. In his spare time on the weekends, he worked at Allerie’s Jazz Club on South Main Street for several years as he loved music. He was a member of The Rhode Island Umpire’s Association for men’s softball for 10 years and was honored with awards for outstanding sportsmanship.

He leaves behind a brother Harold Johnson of Silver Spring Maryland, his daughter Marshel Johnson-Fall of Providence, his son Russel H. Johnson of Cranston, and daughter Heather L. Pina of Cranston, (7) Grandchildren Schynequa, Jazmine, Adam Jr., Adrianna, Timothy Jr, Sekani, and Adamma, and (8) Great Grandchildren.

Graveside Service will be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at 10:00 am at North Burial Ground Cemetery on North Main Street in Providence.