Eddie Howard Johnson

Eddie “Coach” Howard Johnson, 83, of New Orleans, passed away on Sunday, August 20, 2023, after a long illness. Born in West, Mississippi, on February 5, 1940, and raised in Philadelphia, Mississippi, Johnson was a multisport athlete at both the high school and collegiate levels. He was named to the all-conference football team as Philadelphia High School’s quarterback and hard-driving halfback, and according to famed coach Bobby Glynn Posey, “was outstanding in every game he played.” Johnson excelled in virtually any sport or physical activity he had the opportunity to take part in—from football to baseball, track and field, to basketball and tennis. He was a member of the New Orleans Aqua Aces scuba diving team and was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt, shrimp, crab, and fish. He received his associate’s degree in physical education from East Central Junior College, a BA from Mississippi State University, and a master’s in physical education from the University of New Orleans. He served as a medical specialist in the United States Army and in the Army National Guard and was an expert rifleman. While working on his master’s degree, Johnson wrote about the potential therapeutic benefits of the outdoors for young men experiencing cognitive difficulties. In the 1970s, Johnson worked as a coach at New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD), and as a physical education teacher at Lafayette Elementary in New Orleans, and for over thirty years he was an adaptive physical education teacher at Belle Chasse State School, where he taught children and adults with intellectual disabilities. In the late 1980s, he became a certified Special Olympics coach. Johnson will be remembered for his gregarious personality, athleticism, energy, and “never leaving anyone standing on the bank.” Johnson is preceded in death by his mother, Ruby Olene Williams Johnson, and his father, Arthur Thomas Johnson, and son Justin Ray Johnson. Survivors include his daughter, Julia Mae Johnson (Kevin Yeager) of Lexington, Kentucky; and his son, Jeremiah Sheehan Johnson (Christina), granddaughter Gaetana Helen Johnson, and grandson Aidan Crawford Johnson of New Orleans and Chicago; sister Tommie J. Ward and nephew Johnny Ward of Brandon, MS; former spouse Jeremie S. Johnson; niece Anna Redwine and nephew John Redwine.

There will be a private burial service at Lakewood Memorial Park in Jackson, Mississippi.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Eddie Johnson may be made to Special Olympics Louisiana (https://support.specialolympics.org/a/louisiana?ms=IDMP_DB&utm_source=donatebtn&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=IDMP) or to a high school sports or club team of your choice. Memorial entries may be shared online at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/jackson-ms/eddie-johnson-11413869.