Sacramento Observer
By Antonio R. Harvey | OBSERVER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Jon Johnson, a talented freelance photojournalist, was laid to rest recently at the South East Lawn Mortuary in Sacramento.
Before he was taken to his final resting ground, members of the media, television outlets he worked for in Northern California, friends and family attended Johnson’s funeral service held at Sacramento Central Seventh-day Adventist Church in east Sacramento.
“It was an honor to have him as a friend, a role model, and last but not least, a big brother,” said Johnson’s brother, Ricky Rideout.
The church was filled beyond capacity for the three-hour ceremony. Several songs were performed by a variety of gifted singers, including 5-year-old Claryssa Wilson, who sang one of Johnson’s favorite spirituals, “Because of You.”
Bishop S. C. Carthen and pastors Ivan Williams and Mike Thompson, provided words of encouragement.
Johnson, 46, was tragically killed in Elk Grove during a random spree killing after spending a traditional “date night” with his wife, Karen, on March 25. Based on the unfortunate event, Carthen reminded everyone in attendance that Johnson’s fate was not “the end, it’s just the beginning.”
“It seems like violence has just gotten ugly,” Carthen said. “It’s just gone everywhere and showing its ugly head, but here is something I believe that we’ve got to hold on to. The Bible says that they only way that folks will know that we really belong to him is how we have ‘loved one for another.’ There’s an evil force that is trying to get us not to love folks. I just believe that no matter how much violence prevails, God’s love will
prevail more.”
Sidney Clark, Johnson best friend and best man at his wedding, expressed his concerns about an element that was the backbone of his buddy early departure – methamphetamine, an illegal drug that stimulates the central nervous system, and is extremely addictive. Police reports say the alleged gunman was under the influence of the drug commonly known as “crank.”
“I challenge this community in Jon’s name to create a ‘stop Meth campaign,’” Clark said of the drug that it can cause severe withdrawal that is more potent and longer lasting than both speed and cocaine. “Let’s deal with this issue straight up because this is unacceptable.”
Many memories of Johnson were shared by loved ones included his daughter, Tanneria, and son, Tristan. Johnson’s wife also share her fond memories of how the two met nine years ago and that March 25th night that changed both of their lives, forever.
“We had just a wonderful relationship in the end and I thank God for that,” Karen said. “And I thank God that I was with him.”
Pastor Arthur R. Branner II, who referred to Johnson as a “friend,” summed up the eulogy with the utmost respect to Johnson’s profession.
“We have to have the right camera and lighting and that camera is called faith,” Branner said. “You have to have the right light, the Bible says.”
Branner also stated that anyone could have been in Johnson’s situation that fatal Saturday night in Elk Grove.
“The devil is rolling his dice and anytime he throws it each and one of our number could come up,” he said.