Craig A. Johnson

CRAIG ANDRE JOHNSON began his earthly journey on February 24, 1969, becoming a gift to his parents, Tommy and Doris Johnson. He was the baby of the family and all of his life CRAIG lived up to that title but as the story has been told, his sister Donna had other thoughts about him because she was the baby for nearly eight years! CRAIG attended Redeemer Lutheran Elementary School in Westfield, NJ and graduated from Piscataway High School in 1987. He attended Norfolk State University and after leaving college, CRAIG held various jobs while trying to find his true career path. His cousin, Lonnie Carden, who at that time was a Plainfield Police Officer, encouraged CRAIG to take the firemen's test and the rest is history. CRAIG loved being a fireman and served the City of Plainfield with pride for 25+ years. At his job he met lifelong friends, enjoyed the brotherhood and introduced his fellow firefighters to his entire family, including his Aunt Zate.

In May of 1999, CRAIG married Crystal Bryson and from this union came his handsome son, D'Andre Amir Johnson.

CRAIG was a life-of-the-party guy who loved to dance, party and have a good time. You could always find him on the dance floor, sweating it out and cutting the rug! "Follow Me" was his all-time favorite song and he always wanted the DJ to play it so he could get his classic dance moves on. CRAIG was also an avid biker-he started as a teenager riding a mini-bike, a dirt-bike, next a moped and then the motorcycle. CRAIG was one of the first among his friends to get a motorcycle, then encouraged his friends to purchase a motorcycle and, taught his friends how to ride a motorcycle. He became a member of the Regulators Motorcycle Club then a Kingsmen, and was still riding a few days before his transition. CRAIG loved his motorcycle, kept it in pristine condition and the chrome was always shining! The chrome on his bike was like a mirror, you could always see your reflection!

CRAIG reminded us that the days of miracles was not over as he was a true walking miracle who survived a terrible motorcycle accident back in October of 2013. He was brought to the hospital and thought to be dead on arrival but God said no!-the Great Physician healed him and after six months CRAIG was able to go back to fighting fires until his retirement. We thank God for this miracle and for giving CRAIG 12 additional years to be with us.

CRAIG created one big happy family that included the friends he grew up with in his neighborhood, his in-laws and cousins-in-law, his many cousins, firemen and their families, his fellow bikers and their families, his mother's friends and their families . . . We can say CRAIG was a magnet that drew people together and he easily made friends. When he was in the hospital recovering from the accident, we nearly had to fight to get a visiting pass and arrive early and rotate visiting days so we could all see him!

CRAIG was a loving, caring person who over the past nine years looked after and cared for his aunt, Elzaida Lanier, affectionately known as aunt Zate. He was her everything! CRAIG would take care of Abraham--her big Lincoln Town Car, drive to her house weekly to take the garbage and recyclables to the curb, fix her TVs and other electronics, come to her house when maintenance was being done by outside help, and would do anything Aunt Zate asked. The Bible instructs us to care for widows and he did just that!

CRAIG transitioned too soon and unexpectedly on Sunday, August 24, 2025 and oh how it broke our hearts to lose him! You can tell he was loved as the news of his passing quickly spread--many family members and friends gathered on his front lawn in total disbelief, comforting one another. Our lives will never be the same without him and we will always carry CRAIG in our hearts.

CRAIG is predeceased by his parents, Tommy and Doris Johnson, brother, Tommy Johnson, Jr., and, sister, Michelle (Micki) Johnson.

Precious memories of CRAIG will by cherished by his son, D'Andre Amir Johnson and his mother, Crystal Bryson-Johnson, both of Bear, Delaware, a brother, Umar Johnson (Umm Sauda) of Plainfield, NJ, sisters, Brenda Makin (Al) of South Bound Brook, NJ, Donna Johnson of South Plainfield, NJ, one aunt, Elzaida Lanier of Plainfield, NJ, four nieces, two nephews, several great nieces and great nephews, numerous cousins, including the Carden's as he labeled himself the 10th Carden, and many special friends who were like family.

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