Pastor Edmond Johnson was born on March 8, 1939, and was called from labor to reward on January 10, 2022.  He was the son of the late Richard G. Johnson and Alma Amos Johnson. Pastor Johnson was a graduate of Lincoln High School. He retired from Georgia Pacific, Inc. where he met the late Elder Mark Pierson who introduced him to the Lord. At the age of 21, Pastor Johnson accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He affiliated himself with St. Paul Pentecostal Holiness Church under the leadership of the late Elder Susie R. Butler. There he worked faithfully as a member of the gospel choir, ministering in song, and later became an ordained deacon. He served the Lord faithfully as a Sunday School teacher, church secretary/treasurer, and it pleased the Lord to exalt him to a higher calling. As a member of St. Paul, he served under Bishop Frank Brooks in the Apostolic Faith Church of the First Born organization. At age twenty-nine, he received the call to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. His calling was unique in that he was called to, "root up, throw down, build up," and be a warrior for God.

On May 3, 1969, Pastor Johnson was installed as Pastor of Damascus Baptist Church which was later changed to The Holy House of Prayer under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He served faithfully as Pastor for 52 years, teaching and preaching the gospel. Pastor Johnson was known throughout the community as a "walking Bible," and prayer warrior. Under the anointing and power of the Holy Ghost, many miracles were performed through Pastor Johnson's prayers. Bodies were healed from diseases, blinded eyes have been opened, the barren conceived, the crippled walked, hemorrhages stopped, cancer retreated, sarcoidosis deflated, demons fled, spinal meningitis reversed, and strokes were canceled just to name a few. The greatest miracle among all of these was the salvation of many souls.

To know Pastor Johnson was to love him. He cherished his family, his church, but above all, his commitment to purity, private devotion, and his relationship to the Father were most admirable. Though his physical sight grew dim in his last years, his spiritual insight waxed strong. Many times, the congregation would watch in awe as he would recall scripture after scripture verbatim during his weekly sermons. Losing his sight never blurred his vision. Even baptizing new converts into the family of God - the great commission was his calling, and he was devoted to finishing the work until the very end.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Earthalee Johnson, three uncles and seven aunts. Pastor Johnson leaves to cherish precious memories, two brothers; Elias Johnson (Luevenia), and Command Sgt. Major Freddie Johnson (Joann) of Columbus, GA; a long-time devoted friend, Deacon Harmon Pinkney, two devoted neighbors, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Smoot, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, extended family, and friends.

We realize to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. So, rest well our gentle shepherd. Well done good and faithful servant. We will see you in the morning.

Public Viewing will be held on Thursday, January13, 2022 from 2-6pm at Job's Mortuary.

Celebration of Life Services will be held on Friday, January 14, 2022 at 12noon at Salem Chapel & Heritage Center 101 South Salem Avenue, Sumter, SC 29150 with Elder Alfreda Johnson, Presiding and Elder Barrington Pierson, Eulogist.

Interment will follow in Holy House of Prayer Church Cemetery.