William C. Johnson

William Carl Johnson
(1947 - 2024)
Little Billy Johnson, the blind orphan who 65 years ago inspired Danny Thomas in his quest to fund and build the St. Jude Children's Hospital, passed away on August 15, 2024 at the age of 76.
Bill was born prematurely in Nov. 1947 in Chicago during a blizzard, and was surrendered to the state by his mother. Post birth treatment in an incubator with excessive oxygen caused permanent blindness. Bill was raised in multiple foster homes and state facilities. In 1959 at the age of 11, Bill was a resident at the Peoria State Hospital where he learned that Danny Thomas would visit the facility as he began his fundraising efforts for St Jude's Hospital. The following is excerpted from a story published by the Peoria Evening Star:
Jim Maloof was introducing Danny Thomas to the assembled group when, above all the noise, a youngster's voice cried out, "Danny, Danny Thomas, if you're here, if you're really here I've got to see you". It was such a pathetic cry, from a boy in a wheelchair. Danny said "Take me to that kid". Immediately Danny saw that the youngster was blind and he was trembling so hard. And in his hand was a white envelope pinched in his fist, and he couldn't hold it still. The youngster touched his face and said "Are you really Danny Thomas?" Yes.
The youngster said when he found out Danny Thomas was coming, he started saving candy and gum money. He had something for Danny. He said. " I want to give you this for those kids that you're trying to save."
Jim Maloof said "Danny Thomas wept as hard as any adult I have ever seen in my life." He finally pulled himself together and asked what was in the envelope. The boy said "75 cents, and it's all yours, Danny." The kid was 11 years old, blind named Billy Johnson. Danny picked the youngster up and took him over to a little recreation area. After he pulled himself together, Danny vowed then and there that the 75 cents of Billy Johnson's would be in the cornerstone of the St. Jude statue which would someday go in front of the St. Jude Hospital in Memphis. Danny took the 75 cents and told that story in such a way that he raised millions of dollars in donations. The 75 cents was put in the statue and Bill's story is etched into the stone base. Bill and Danny remained friends and Bill continued to donate to St. Jude Hospital.
Once Bill grew and aged out of the system he was on his own, and in his late teens he moved to Memphis, where he discovered Jesus, and was born again, his faith being his highest priority. In his quest to be closer to Jesus, Bill travelled to the Holy Land - not once, but twice! At age 23 Bill moved to New Jersey. He found work in a dark room- developing X-rays at a hospital. Bill married his wife, Nancy, who is also blind in 1991. In 2011 St. Jude flew both of them to Memphis to participate in the 50th anniversary celebration of the Hospital. Even as Bill's faith and love for his wife grew stronger, his body grew weaker and his last years were spent in a nursing home.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Nancy (Hildebrand), sisters Alice Sutton and Elaine Evans (Wendell), and brother-in-laws David Hildebrand, and Bill Hildebrand (Jacquelyn), as well as many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service on Wednesday, August 21st at Redeemer Montclair Church,19 N
Willow Street, Montclair. Internment private, visitation at the O'Boyle Funeral Home, 309 Broad Street, Bloomfield on Tuesday from 4-7pm.