Letter to the editor: Family of COVID victim Darell Johnson asks for help with funeral

Darell Johnson, 1976-2020.
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Editor’s note: Morristown resident Darell Johnson, who died this month at age 43 from complications of COVID-19, will be laid to rest on Monday, April 27, 2020. “His loss isn’t just being felt by the members of his family and friends, but by so many across Morristown,” Gov. Phil Murphy said last week. This letter is from Darell’s brother, Wayne.

I have known my brother, William Darell Johnson, for 40 years.  I am writing here for one primary reason: To express a specific need, which is paying the funeral expenses of my brother Darell.

Please bear with me, if you have a moment, as I would like to share some things.

Brothers Wayne and Darell Johnson. Photo courtesy of Wayne Johnson.

Darell’s heart was so big that he had room to love so many people and be loved by so many people. When we hugged (and even sometimes when he would let me pinch his cheeks) I realized he was not just my “Teddy Bear” as I would often call him, but he was for the entire world to share.

It is simply an honor and beautiful thing to have known a man who brought so many awesome memories with all of you–touching so many lives.  Darell knows, he has and always will be a champion of my heart.

I loved wearing his clothes when he was away at college and even more recently when he would joke, “Hey, is that my old sweatshirt?”

Darell asked me to be his best man, and at my wedding brought some tears when he called me his best friend.  He explained to everyone there how we never argued about anything except pancakes–a childhood issue my mom would solve wisely by cutting the really large pancake in half.

The late Darell Johnson, right, with his parents, the late William Douglas Johnson, and his mother, Islin Johnson. Photo courtesy of Wayne Johnson.

In my brother Darell was William Douglas Johnson, who we laid to rest last year.  The same  “I don’t have a bad word to say about anyone” calm, patient style.  As you may know, you could get in as many words as you liked with Daddy.

In my brother Darell was Islin Johnson: The never-give-up feisty spirit that got him excited about sports from an early age, and sociability with emphasis on talking. As you may know, once she gets the Trinidad and Tobago accent going, it is hard to get a word in with Mommy.

Lastly, I am writing to express the perspective of my mom, Islin Johnson, who is rather privately going through a difficult time, having to lay her husband and son to rest in a little over a year’s time.

At age 74, she is extremely careful about social distancing. But on an essential errand, she was hit by a speeding driver which totaled her car a few days before Darell passed away.  I think it is okay, on her behalf, for me to tell family, friends and the community that she needs financial help paying for Darell’s funeral expenses.

Funds collected in a GoFundMe campaign are going to his children’s future, but not to his funeral expenses.

Please visit the Rowe Funeral Home link below to contribute to directly help cover his funeral expenses. First click on “TRIBUTE FUND” and then on “DONATE NOW”

https://www.rowefuneral.com/obituaries/William–Darell–Johnson?obId=12755645#/obituaryInfo

Sincerely,

Wayne Johnson

Wayne Johnson of Morristown teaches at a North Brunswick elementary school, and is a personal trainer.

1 COMMENT

  1. Thank you Kevin for both articles on Darell Johnson. You really captured the very essence & true character of the man. Most deserving of such eloquent print.

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