Jasper Edgar Johnson Jr.

Sunday evening at 6 o’clock p.m. February 19, 1939 Eunice and Jasper Johnson experienced the arrival of a boy in their home at 1512 East Preston Street in Baltimore, Maryland. At the sight of their first child, their hearts were overwhelmed with thanksgiving, joy, and love. They thanked God for their gift and named him Jasper Edgar Johnson, Jr.

Jasper received his education from the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS). He graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in June of 1958. He served 4 years in the United States Marine Corp working as a military policeman. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal in March of 1962. Jasper worked as a postal clerk in the United States Postal System and while employed there he earned his B.S. degree in Mathematics with a minor in Education from Morgan State University in June of 1969. His mother and wife persuaded him to apply for a teaching position in the BCPSS. He was hired in 1969 to teach mathematics at Benjamin Franklin Junior High School. As acting department head, with the help of teachers in his department, they started a program that involved using unit pre-tests, work booklets, post-tests, and semester examinations to improve student performance. They were highly successful because their students exceled in all areas. In September 1979, he was transferred to his alma mater, Poly to teach mathematics. He also taught Algebra I and II, Plane Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, and Math SAT Prep. Jasper worked with the student government, scholarship committees, and the national honor society. He also wrote numerous semester examinations and the curriculum used to teach Math SAT Prep. He believed a good teacher inspires, praises, guides, and encourages students to do their best. He taught at Poly until he retired in June 2005. Afterwards, Jasper worked at Macy’s, and as a custodian in the Harford County Public School System.

Jasper helped form a social club named, The VSQs. They sponsored trips, held cabarets, and other social events in the community. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Cherry Hill. He loved to cook breakfast on Saturday mornings, listen to old radio stories, read National Geographic magazines, listen to oldies but goodies music, and watch the ratings on the stock exchange. He was a member of the Blue-Chip Investment Club of Abingdon Maryland where he selected stocks for the club to invest in. For many years he worked hard at developing an easy to use lottery system to find winning numbers. He recently developed a system called The Number Eye to give people strategies to win the lottery. This year along with 2 of his nephews his dream came true – The Number Eye is available for download at the Google Play Store.

He never hesitated to step in to assist in any way – to be a good neighbor, advisor, and friend.
He will be greatly missed by all – family and friends.

Jasper departed this earthly life on June 30, 2020. He was preceded in death by his parents Eunice and Jasper Johnson, his son Jasper Edgar Johnson, III, and his siblings Charles Johnson, Faustina Hill, and James Johnson. He leaves to cherish his memory a devoted wife, Barbara Johnson of 56 years, a daughter Tannes Johnson, grandchildren Ian Johnson, Jair Abdullah and Sakinah Abdullah, a sister Kate Hammonds, daughter-in-law Toni Johnson, sister-in-law Judith Smith and several nieces, nephews, a host of other family members, friends and our faithful dog, Fonzworth Johnson.