Otis Lee Johnson

Psalms 55:6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
Otis Lee Johnson was born March 14th, 1935, to the late Pauline Simms and the late Thomas James Johnson Sr. He departed this life on December 7th, 2021 in his home. At a young age, Otis was gifted with an entrepreneurial spirit to transact business exhibited in his first job throwing papers for the Mobile Press Register at the age of 15. He delivered the newspapers and collected the money due from his customers effectively running his paper route like a business. 

Otis respected and relied on older mentors/educators to bestow knowledge and wisdom pertaining to life’s lessons. He intently listened, watched, and ultimately followed the advice of others in the importance of getting a solid education, which cultivated a seed within him. He attended Central High School in Mobile, Alabama where he excelled at reading, writing and math. After graduating , Otis formulated and executed his plan to obtain a college education. After serving 4 years in the Airforce, he was awarded the GI Bill, which he proudly used to pursue his bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Talladega College in 1956. After earning his degree in 1960, Otis realized that he needed to further his education in pursuing a master's degree. With the acceptance of help from many individuals in his dedicated pursuit, he was able to purchase a car, secure housing and get a job to pay for tuition all in short order, which allowed him to relocate to Springfield, Massachusetts to attend Springfield College. In 1964, he was awarded a master’s degree in Psychology. 
In 1972, Otis received his state board certification to practice as a Clinical Psychologist in the state of Indiana, after which he started a practice for a short time. He later accepted an opportunity with the United States Government Civil Service where he was tasked with creating training and evaluation programs for the soldiers at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana. Otis was later transferred and promoted into a position at Fort Rucker, Alabama where he worked as an Education Specialist at DES (Directorate of Evaluation and Standardization). He earned many awards and accolades over the 20 years in his role to evaluate the helicopter training programs at DES. 
Otis was very articulate and a detailed oriented individual with a unique way of working with the various people he encountered. In retirement, he became an avid reader and began to translate his many thoughts into writing. He spent time learning trends in technology as it relates to driving the success of various companies in the stock market. Otis took his religious faith very seriously and was extremely active in reading and communicating the teachings of the Bahai Faith since becoming a Bahai in 1960. 
Otis leaves to cherish his memories his devoted wife, Irene, who stuck by him until the Lord called him home, son, Eric and his wife Brandy of Baton Rouge, LA, stepdaughter, Victoria Dade and her husband Pierre of Jacksonville, FL, sister-in-law Daisy Richardson of Birmingham, AL, sister, Mamie L. Armistead and her husband Cleophus of Mobile, AL, sister, Helen D. Thornton of Detroit, MI, sister, Maxine J. Davis of Mobile, AL, brother-in-law, Stephen Williams and his wife Sabrina of Detroit, MI, grandchildren, Ivy, Aiden and a host of nieces, nephews and other family members. He was preceded in death by his brothers Alvin Clarence, Umry Lee, Arthur Lee and Thomas James Jr. He is also preceded in death by his sister Lillie Bell Lee.

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