CARL W. JOHNSON

Carl Winston Johnson was born January 21, 1941 in Lackawanna, NY and departed this world to assume his rightful place amongst the ancestors on June 11, 2026 in Mableton, Georgia. He was the son of the late Genevieve Pelham Johnson and the late John Blue. Carl was educated in the Buffalo public school system from K-12, graduating from Bennett High School in 1960, where he was a Hall of Fame football player. He was an esteemed HBCU alumnus of North Carolina Central University, where he proudly proclaimed, “The Eagle is no common, ordinary barnyard bird!” During his time at NCCU, he met his future wife, Peggy Joyce Foreman, whom he married shortly after her graduation in 1965. They created a life and home in Buffalo, New York where their union produced Carl W. Johnson, II, MD, Camille Joy Johnson, and Caryn Jeanine Johnson, MD. In addition to his children, he was a surrogate father to Kondwani Jefferson and a godfather to Capri Orr, Katrina Delaney, and Dawan Jones. He loved his grandchildren and was affectionately known as “Baba” to Carl Winston “Trey” Johnson, III, and Bryant Isaiah Johnson and “Pops” to Kingston Jefferson. Additionally, he was fondly known as “Uncle Cee Jay” by birth or association to so many in the younger generations. Family was his top priority and he was proud to stand in the gap for his siblings and could be relied upon whenever needed as his generosity was second to none. In addition to his devotion to family, another inseparable bond was forged through a lifelong brotherhood when he was initiated into the Gamma Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated at NCCU. He was preceded in death by his siblings Nathaniel, Earl, Julia, Ruth “Jeanette”, Celma, Theodore “Bobby”, Daniel Blue, James Blue, Vernon Blue and William Blue.

Carl’s life and work were dedicated to building community and uplifting the underserved, first as a community organizer in his early professional career, as Executive Director of St. Augustine’s Center. Following his tenure at St. Augustine’s and after cultivating a career in community building and development, he continued his work as a consultant to other organizations, including the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers and the African-American Cultural Center. He took so much pride in his community and family and was honored to strengthen his family's legacy by supporting and planning multiple Pelham Family Reunions throughout the more than 50-year history of the family organization. He expressed his love with a hearty laugh and, if possible, an even more hearty meal. He said “I love you” by way of a good plate, good laugh and to experience both simultaneously was his joy. His love of culinary arts was perfectly complemented by his love of travel and the exploration of the local food scene was an integral part of every family vacation. Carl was an avid reader, a lover of art, music, travel, and a passionate life-long learner of local and international cultures.

He was a tremendous family man, mentor, community advocate, and role model who exemplified the strength, integrity, selflessness, and commitment to excellence that was impactful and immeasurable to all who were blessed to have known him. He was loved by many and will be missed by even more. Let light perpetual shine upon his soul.