Russell Kendall Johnson
Jan 27, 2025
Birth Feb. 10, 1953Watham, MADeath Dec. 20, 2024Decatur, GADetails of serviceService of celebration and remembrance tentatively set for May 24, 2025, at the Barre Congregational Church, at 11:00 a.m.Russell Kendall Johnson of Decatur, GA, passed away on December 20, 2024. He was born in Waltham, Mass. on February 10, 1953, the first child of Larry W. and Constance A. Folsom Johnson. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Deborah Thorne Johnson, in January 2010, and his father in May 2007.A loving and loved son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather, Russell’s passion was art, particularly music. He could play a wide range of instruments, but his favorites were the flute and keyboard. His tastes ran the gamut: classical to reggae, punk rock to Sufi, jazz, afro-pop, and French folk music. Virtually all music held some allure…except for the music he did not like, and he did not hesitate to let you know. He also had an eye for visual arts, including paintings, sculptures, movies, and anything that looked particularly interesting.He was a lifelong learner, with an endless knowledge of topics across the board. Russell, then in his late thirties, moved his family from Vermont to Louisiana in order to attend Loyola University in New Orleans on a full scholarship, from which he graduated with a BS in Computer Science. Russell focused his information technology skills on helping others in ways large and small. It was his passion to get the job done and help others get their work done. This includes helping those facing natural disasters as a computer technician for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where he deployed to disaster areas for months at a time to ensure precious resources got to those most in need.Russell was a gifted athlete and loved exercise. But even more so, he possessed a joyously twisted sense of humor to match his razor-sharp wit, an infectious laugh, and a marrow-deep love of family. He never recovered from losing his loving wife Debby, but that hurt was softened by the joy of knowing his grandchildren that he loved so dearly will carry on his legacy. As the Sufi poet Rumi noted: “Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.”He leaves behind his mother, and his three children: daughter Desiree Johnson of Brattleboro, VT, and her husband Javier, and granddaughters Corabelle and Zalima; son Aarron Johnson of Baltimore, MD, and grandsons Nicholas and Seth; and son Julian Johnson of Washington, D.C., and his wife Agnieszka (Agnes), and grandson Damian. Also, his siblings: sister Lauren Johnson, of Craftsbury, VT, and her husband Ronald Bisson; sister Erika Johnson McGilley, of Hendersonville, NC, and her husband Donald; brother Kerrick Johnson of North Middlesex, VT, and his wife Mary Ann, North Middlesex, VT; sister R. Winona Johnson of Plainfield, VT; and sister Marilyn Johnson of Barre, VT, with Jonathan Wheeler; and many aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and cousins. Condolences should be addressed to Constance Johnson at 130 Mansfield Avenue, Apt # 202, Burlington, VT 05401Read the story on VTDigger here: Russell Kendall Johnson.
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