Lee Joseph Johnson

Lee Joseph Johnson, 83, was born to Elton Leo Johnson and Hettie Chaney Wilson in Demopolis, Alabama. He spent his first four years in Demopolis before moving to Elyria, Ohio. It was in 1946 that Lee with his parents, brother Columbus, sister Barbara, grandmother Maggie Chaney and other extended family members all began traveling north settling in Elyria, Ohio on Wood Street in the years thereafter.

Lee began his education at Carlisle Elementary School and then on to middle school at Midview Junior High School. As the family moved from the south side to the west side on Parmely Avenue, Lee attended Elyria High School (EHS) graduating in 1961. While in high school, Lee developed his talented gift with basketball as taught to him by then EHS coach Dale Reichenbach. During his four years at EHS, Lee excelled academically and as an athlete, setting many notable records in basketball which lead EHS to the 1961 state championship finals. Lee was also a member of the EHS track team. Lee’s talents earned him a basketball scholarship to Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas where he attended school and played basketball through his junior year. Lee played alongside many who went on to play in the NBA during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Lee sustained a knee injury during his junior year at TSU which resulted in the forfeiture of his scholarship. As he returned home, he often spoke about his friend NBA great Bill Russell and his college classmate Archie Bell who later went on to form the singing group “Archie Bell and The Drells”. Lee, according to many, was destined to play “Power Forward and/or Center” in the NBA had it not been for the knee injury. It was in 1995 that Lee was honored and inducted into the Elyria High School Pioneer Sports Hall of Fame.

Lee, during the summers while in college, worked for the Elyria City Parks and Recreation Department. Upon his return to Elyria from TSU, he became employed as a car salesperson with Spitzer Motors in Elyria. Within one year on the job, he was drafted into the United States Army where he was stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky for two years. He was honorably discharged and returned to Elyria where he immediately resumed his work selling cars at Spitzer Motors. Lee later became employed with General Motors Corporation working on the assembly line and within the Quality Control Unit from which he retired in 2007 after 39 years. He was a proud member of the UAW.

Lee met Dorothy Mae Reed in 1968 and after two years of dating, were married on July 21, 1971. Together they celebrated forty-nine and one half years of marriage. In the spring of 1971 Lee, Dorothy and his four stepchildren, Joann, Melba Jean, Douglas and Darlene all moved into their “newly built” home on Delaware Avenue where together, he and Dorothy raised “their” four children and supported the growth and development of many grand and great-grandchildren. The family home and backyard has been the site of countless celebrations especially during the summer months. Lee and Dorothy enjoyed traveling as a family but most often were found traveling solo as a couple by air and sea. The family outings were to Geauga Lake and Cedar Point amusement parks, visiting Dorothy’s family in Elkhart, Indiana and countless road trips to visit the Johnson and Wilson family in Demopolis. First stop in Demopolis was 702 E. Jefferson Street, home of his favorite first cousin Joseph Lee Johnson.

Lee enjoyed life to the fullest and took great pride in keeping his cars spotless. Lee demonstrated a work ethic beyond measure during the weekdays and was known to enjoy his weekends with family or getting on the dance floor at all of the local club scenes in the city. Lee confessed his life to Christ at a young age while attending the Original Church of God in Elyria. He demonstrated his faith in Christ in his daily walk of his lived experiences. Perhaps the greatest of these is reflective of Matthew 25 vs 40. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Joann, Melba Jean, Douglas, Darlene). Lee likened his life and lived experiences to that of the “Jabez”. A man born in sorrow who prayed to do and live well, and that he did. At Unity Missionary Baptist Church, he was known to “fix things” around the church and as the church “Mailman”.

Lee, on the morning of January 20, 2025, while at University Hospital Elyria Medical Center, answered God’s call to join Him and his ancestors at 4:53 a.m. He leaves to cherish his memory, daughter Joann Lewis (William) Lawson of Columbus, OH, son Douglas (Madrian) Lewis of Cleveland, OH and daughter Darlene Lewis of Columbus, OH. He also leaves to cherish his memory sisters Barbara Johnson (Willie) Berry of Elyria OH, Margaret Johnson-Barbee of Oberlin, OH and Beverly Johnson-Walker of Elyria, OH; and brothers Calvin Johnson Sr. of Elyria, OH and Kenneth “Kenn” Johnson of Cleveland, OH. He also leaves ten nieces and nephews. fifteen grandchildren, thirty great grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren and a host of aunts, one uncle, cousins, extended family and friends.

Lee was preceded in death by his maternal great-great grandmother Johanna Essex-Nelson, great grandmother Carrie Essex -Wilson, great grandfather Charles Wilson. grandfather Frank Wilson (1984) and grandmother Maggie Chaney-Blackman (1967). He was also preceded by his paternal grandfather Isiah Johnson, grandmother Ella (Bolden) Johnson (1968), his father Elton Leo Johnson (1977), his mother Hettie Wilson-Johnson (2011), his wife Dorothy Mae Reed-Johnson of 49.5 years (2020), daughter Melba Jean Lewis-White (2015), his brothers Columbus Brock-Johnson (2020) AND Samuel Johnson (2012) and nephew Kevin Green (2009).

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, from 10 AM until the time of service at 11 AM at the Brown-Robinson Funeral Home and Celebration Center, 6075 Middle Ridge Rd, Lorain OH 44053. Rev. Willie Gardner of Unity Baptist Church in Elyria will officiate. Burial will be at Brookdale Cemetery, Elyria.

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