The Rev. I.J. Johnson

1927 - 2018

(News story) The Rev. I.J. Johnson, senior pastor of the church he founded more than 62 years ago, who was regarded as a leader in the faith community and beyond, died Friday at the University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio Hospital. He was 90.

"He had a quadruple bypass seven years prior," said his son the Rev. Curley Johnson, co-pastor of St. Mark's Baptist Church. "He kept going after that, and he kept preaching the Gospel. He was getting weaker, but the doctor said if he had a heart episode, he probably wouldn't be strong enough to take it."

Pastor Johnson was honored every Sunday last month as the congregation commemorated St. Mark's 62nd anniversary.

"He became known as one of the warriors and mentors of our faith community," said the Rev. Cedric Brock, pastor of Mount Nebo Baptist Church, who credited Pastor Johnson with helping revive a dormant Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance nearly 15 years ago.

In 2008, Toledo City Council honored Pastor Johnson, then known as the dean of central city pastors, by designating Detroit Avenue at Fernwood Avenue as "Rev. I.J. Johnson Way."

Pastor Johnson was a former trustee of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority and took part in other community boards and causes. He is a former president of the Baptist Ministers Conference.

Pastor Johnson's son said: "The call to ministry is a call to mankind. Some people have taken it and think it is a profession, but it is a calling, and our call is to serve."

The church's longtime home, a 111-year building at 1419 N. Detroit Ave., was destroyed by fire in January, 2014. The congregation met temporarily at the University of Toledo and other venues, and with the help of donations from Christian, Muslim, and other communities found and renovated a new home on North Holland-Sylania Road. Pastor Johnson led his church family in celebration on Easter Sunday, 2015, the first service in the new St. Mark's.

Isiah Johnson was born July 14, 1927, in Troy, Ala., to Mary and Levi Johnson, one of 11 siblings. He liked listening to the preacher at the family's church, where his father was a deacon, and he looked forward to Sunday services. At age 12, "he felt the spirit had called him" while preaching to a group of youngsters who were playing church, his son aid. Thereafter, at home, "he preached to the corn stalks and any siblings who listened to him."

He was a graduate of Academy High School in Troy, Easonian Baptist Seminary in Birmingham, Ala., and was ordained at age 19. He was a pastor of four churches in Alabama before settling in Toledo and founding St. Mark's in 1955.

He was preceded in death by daughters Mary Stokes and Darlene Baker.

Surviving are his wife, Betty Rae Johnson, whom he married Aug. 26, 1958; daughters, Annie Wright, Denisee Gaston, and Angela Taylor; sons, Jim, Eric, Izear, the Rev. Michael, and the Rev. Curley Johnson; brother, Alonzo "Bobby" Johnson; 28 grandchildren, and 39 great-grandchildren.

The body will be in St. Mark's Baptist Church from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, with a celebration of life service at 7 p.m. Friday at Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mark's, with a wake at 10 a.m.

Arrangements are by the House of Day Funeral Service.

This is a news story by Mark Zaborney. Contact him at mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.