Philadelphia Pastor, the Rev. Albert Johnson, Preaches a Stirring Eulogy for His Mom
By Sister Angelena Spears, Philadelphia Conference Reporter
It was unquestionably the hardest task that the Rev. Albert Johnson, pastor of Mt. Tabor African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, had ever faced. On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, he stood in the pulpit of his church in front of family, church family, ministry colleagues, and friends – and eulogized his mom, Mrs. Doris H. Johnson.
Colleagues who had come from across the Philadelphia District, including his former presiding elder, the Rev. Dr. Natalie Alford, supported Pastor Johnson, and the cards and resolutions shared were heartfelt.
Joining him in the pulpit included the Rev. Jacqueline Capers, the pastor of Disney Nichols AME Church- Philadelphia, who did everything in the role of officiant to make certain it was a service of “celebration.” Early in the service, the Rev. Capers declared that if the Holy Spirit would join them, they would definitely get through it.
Other colleagues in ministry who participated in the service were the Rev. Glenn Shepherd, pastor of Bethel AME Church, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, who read the New Testament Scripture, and the Rev. Lois Wilkinson, pastor of Shorter AME Church, Morton, Pennsylvania, who gave the prayer of comfort.
Providing measurable comfort for all, the Reverend Juanita Hall-Walters, the recently retired pastor of Greater Mount Olive AME Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, sang with power a medley of songs that included selections from: “I Will Make the Darkness Light Before You,” “It is Well with My Soul,” and “When I See Jesus, Amen.”
The Reverend Johnson preached the eulogy around Philippians 4: 10-13, 19, where Paul writes, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances…I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” He titled the eulogy “The Story of a Strong Black Woman,” and he wove the message around the biblical text as well as Langston Hughes’ famous poem, “Life For Me Ain’t Been No Crystal Stair.”
Just like in the Langston Hughes poem shared the Rev. Johnson, his mom’s life had not been a crystal stair. It was not always easy. Her life had included a life of struggle, pain, and sacrifice. He declared that his mom and dad, James Johnson, had raised five children, and the journey had included times living in the Philadelphia projects. And yet, he remembered that despite any challenges, his mom had always exemplified unconditional love and unshakeable faith. She had commanded all five of her children to “never turn around in the face of life’s challenges,” and she had scolded them against using excuses.
“She would not let us quit,” remembered the Rev. Johnson. Instead, she instilled in them that they could indeed do all things through Christ.
“When you believe you can do all things through Christ, then you don’t have to make any excuses for yourself,” she had often said. “When you have Christ in your life, you will replace fear and failure with faith and success!”
Mrs. Doris H. Johnson is survived by her five children, a sister, eleven grandchildren, and a host of great-grandchildren.
The members of the Philadelphia Conference ask your continued prayers for the Rev. Albert Johnson and his wife, Sister Vivian Johnson, and the entire Johnson family.
