I Dondre' Aurion Johnson

The movements of the life's symphony of The Reverend Dondre Aurion Johnson, I began on August 1, 1974. On this day Raymond Sam and Margaret Guillory welcomed the arrival of their new family additions, twin boys! The music of the life of Dondre Aurion Johnson, I, began being composed on the Southend of Beaumont, TX. He received his educational matriculation in the Jefferson County Public School System, where he attended Dunbar Elementary, David Crockett Middle School, and was a graduate of the Mighty Jaguars Class of 1992 from the Beaumont Central High School. His high school pilgrimage would gain him the nick names of "Twin Hype" and "Drummer Boy" because of his abilities as a skilled percussionist in the band.

As a young lad, Dondre learned how to lean and to depend on Jesus, and as a result accepted Him into his heart as his Lord and Savior. Dondre's passion for the ministry of mortuary care was cultivated at a very tender age, and both he and his twin Derrick would begin serving alongside their aunt at Knighton Funeral Home in Beaumont. What begin as seed planted by their aunt as serving in the capacity of ushering and washing cars for services would harvest into a lifelong vocational niche in the death care industry. Dondre would continue to propagate his passion for funeral service by attending Commonwealth Mortuary School and later Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. Dondre would later relocate to the Fort Worth domain, where he would continue his tutelage in funeral service under the auspices of the late Dr. Gregory W. Spencer.

Dondre's tenure in funeral service for him was not just a job, it was his way of life, his passion. One of his divine callings. Throughout his decades duration of service as a funeral service professional, Dondre contributed his gift of the craft to various establishments to include Gregory W. Spencer Funeral Directors, Inc., Gregory W. Spencer and Sons at McGowan Mansion, Gregory W. Spencer and Sons at Cedar Crest, The Major Funeral Home, D & D Johnson Funeral Home, Emmanuel Funeral Home, Bedford Funeral Home, and various others over the years. However, Dondre's call to mortuary ministry was merely an extension of the call of Christ. Dondre accepted his call to the ministry while serving at The Church At Philadelphia under Dr. Spencer. He would later serve under the spiritual tutelage of Dr. Christopher Taylor at the Morning Star Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, Dr. Darrell W. Blair at New Breed Christian Center, Harvey Avenue Baptist Church with the Reverend Jack Teeler, and most currently, until his health prevented him from regularly attending, Kingdom Vision Ministries under the leadership of Bishop Charles Franklin.

He would become a gifted preacher and over the span of 20 plus years, would deliver passionate sermonic expositions rounding out each with his classic close that would leave the congregations in a blaze. He became eminent for his characteristic renditions of "I Need Thee Every Hour" and "When I See Jesus." He would always sing under the anointing, and often, funerals would transform into worship services, and worship services into revivals whenever he opened his mouth. His classic move of setting the room on fire and simply walking off the stage mid squall never got old. The memory of his life, love, and legacy will forever burn aflame in the hearts of those who linger.