Johnny Fair

1932 - 2016

FAIR Johnny Fair (83) passed away in Jacksonville, Florida on January 26, 2016. The world will miss his strong, fighting spirit and the courage he embodied in many battles against injustice and racism. We will miss his warm smile and outgoing personal charm. Johnny was born February 11, 1932 to Rosella Fair (Randolph) in the rural town of Union, South Carolina. His father, Bud Saucer, did not stay in Johnny's life. His grandfather, Raster, was an important influence. He was the youngest of four children. He played with his brother James and his cousin Leroy Fair and went to prayer meetings in the woods outside of Union. He started school at the school for blacks where he was very dissatisfied because, as he said, the teacher didn't know anything. When he was about age 6 or 8 his mother took him to Baltimore, Maryland where he attended one of the black elementary schools in West Baltimore. He stayed in school but acquired only the most basic reading and writing skills. His biggest regret was that he did not get a better education. He thought that he could have accomplished more with a formal education and he kept taking classes in English, math and other subjects throughout his life. He married Joyce Beatrice Jones in 1960. They moved from West Baltimore to a home in Catonsville, Maryland and raised one daughter, Sharron Bailey, and a grandson, Ernest Carter. He was actively involved in his large extended family, traveling to many cities to organize and participate in family reunions and other events. Johnny first worked at the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard outside Baltimore. He traveled with his brother James to work at a steel mill in Weirton, West Virginia and eventually ended up at Bethlehem Sparrows Point plant east of Baltimore. He had some other jobs including cab driver and he got his barber's license. During the 1960s Johnny was among the many activists in the fight to desegregate public facilities in the City of Baltimore, for example, going one-by-one with his brother James to small neighborhood bars and clubs and demanding to be served. As a steelworker at Bethlehem Sparrows Point plant in Maryland, he eventually attained the classification of millwright. He attended welder training and was certified as a welder. He built the Coke Oven Committee of the Steelworkers Union to represent that predominantly-black department in all kinds of workplace considerations such as demanding equal pay, preventing layoffs, getting people re-hired who had been fired, and improving the harsh working conditions and exposure to toxic chemicals that existed in the industry. He was a Grievance Committeeman for Local 2610 and once was elected and served a term as Chairman of the Grievance Committee. He was active in the community on every kind of issue. He ran for city council in Baltimore and worked in campaigns for the Mitchell family and other leaders. In later years he started several businesses including real estate investment and renovation, rental properties, and a retail produce and fish store, for example. He loved to travel and visited many countries in Europe, Asia and Africa as well as extensively in the United States, Canada and Mexico. He organized and spoke at national conferences for the United Steelworkers. He represented hundreds of people over the years especially the poor and less fortunate. Much has already been told and written about this extraordinary man and undoubtedly much more will be written and said. He is preceded in death by his sister, Leola Washington, and brother, JT Fair. Johnny made his final arrangements with the National Cremation Society of Jacksonville. May you rest in peace, our dear loved one and brother, Johnny Fair.