Floyd Benny Johnson

During the early 30’s a movement called the Great Migration was underway… At this time, African Americans moved in droves from the Deep South under the Jim Crow era to the North which was considered a move to prosperity. Floyd’s father, Fred Johnson, rode a truck from Jackson, Mississippi to Dayton, Ohio where he worked at GH&R Foundry for 30 years. Fred returned to Jackson to gather his family of seven and rode the train to Dayton in June 1947. The family moved to Richley Street near Dennison Avenue where Fred, along with a few of his Mississippi friends built the family home; the family never rented. At the tender age of 13, while a student of Wogaman Elementary school, Floyd drew the blueprints to the Richley home. A true visionary mind was in blossom. Under the supervision of Mr. Donald Dewitt, his Industrial Arts teacher, the drawings were approved by the City of Dayton, Ohio, and the home was completed. 

A graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1957, Floyd was a scholar and an athlete. He lettered in basketball, football, and track all four years. In his senior year, he set the city record of 152’ 9” while throwing the Discus and won the City Track Championship. His athletic talent would assist him in securing a track and basketball scholarship at Central State University where he majored in Health Physical Education and Recreation. 

Floyd always stood up for the right thing. During his junior year, he went to a Yellow Springs barbershop to protest White people not cutting Black people’s hair. Floyd became seriously involved in civil rights when he joined CORE, Congress of Racial Equality. In 1963, he sat in at the Rike Kumler department store, under the leadership of W.S. McIntosh, to protest Rike’s not hiring or allowing Black people to try on clothes. During the protest, Rike said they could not find qualified Black people to hire. Floyd was the first Black salesperson for Rike’s and was hired off the picket line. During that time, they met with CORE every Thursday at the Masonic Lodge on West Fifth and Conover Street. During a Rike’s protest, Floyd, along with several other CORE members, were arrested and jailed. CORE representatives from all over the country came to protest. George Ducker bailed all the members out in 1963 with $5000 cash. Rike’s got a facelift, and black people began to work at the department store. An avid fundraiser for SNCC, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Floyd worked with people like Stokely Carmichael, Charley Cobb, Cleveland Sellars and Ivin Hoe Donaldson. In addition to these leaders, he worked with other prominent Civil Rights leaders like James Farmer and Floyd B. McKissick, both former National Chairmen of CORE. In 1965, he was a Charter member of the Dayton Alliance for Racial Equality (DARE), which the FBI considered to be one of the top 10 watch groups during the Civil Rights movement.  

On May 3,1966, he ran for State Representative against CJ McLin in the Democratic primary. This was one of McLin's closest races.   Floyd married Minnie Fells on May 20, 1963 and had two beautiful children Thina and Azi. Johnson taught at Edison Elementary and became the coordinator for the Model Cities Planning Council to address challenges for Blacks in targeted areas. In 1973, he began planning and then received a cable tv franchise in 1977. He also set up a manpower training program for CATV at Roosevelt. In 1980, he ran against Ed Orlet for State Representative. As President of the Dayton Chapter of CSU Alumni Association from 1980 to 1982, he organized the alumni and went to the Ohio Legislature to secure critical supplemental state financing of over $20 million dollars for the University. Floyd married Judith Johnson on July 31, 1983.They had one beautiful bouncing baby girl, Zuri Ashanti, in 1987. He joined Primerica Financial Services in 1990. Floyd continued his Civil Rights work with the NAACP in 1988 as the political action coordinator.  

He served as Dayton NAACP President from 2002-2004 and retired in 2004. Floyd enjoyed relaxing, reading and providing financial services to middle-income families with Primerica Financial Services. His passion was helping his family. He was an avid history buff and advocate for the African American community. He was a political activist, author, educator and entrepreneur.  

Floyd Johnson is survived by his wife, Judith Johnson, children, Thina Johnson of Ellenwood, GA, Azi Johnson of Decatur, GA, and Zuri (Pete) Johnson Mayberry of Los Angeles, CA, grandchild, Omari Johnson, siblings Jewel (Bill) Jones, Nancy (Darryl) Mayes, and Mary Johnson Grant and a host of beloved relatives, friends, and loved ones. He was preceded in death by his mother, Eliza Wrencher Johnson, father, Fred B. Johnson, and siblings Cora Johnson, Alfred Johnson, Gloria (Claude) Wesson White, and Earnestine (Otis) Smith.

Floyd went home to be with the Lord on August 10, 2024. 

Funeral Service 11 am Thursday, August 22, 2024 at Phillips Temple CME Church, 3620 Shiloh Springs Rd. Trotwood, OH. Visitation 9am- 11 am. Family will receive friends 10 am-11 am. Interment Shiloh Park Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to House of Wheat Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the scholarship fund on behalf of Floyd Johnson.

Donation link:  https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/5bHN3w?vid=1706ey

Livestream Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/8018410864941431/

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