Michael B. Johnson, Sr. Stands Tall Among Giants
As the Giants 37th Banquet and Annual Awards Program came to a close this year, on Saturday, February 23, 2019, Michael B. Johnson gained the distinguished honor of being a Giant Among Giants.
For Michael Johnson, this award a pinnacle of recognition for his many years of volunteerism and noteworthy accomplishments.
In his voluntary service he has always cared about being instrumental in faith - based and civic relations.
As a young member of St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church, he participated in Children's Bible Hour with Aunt Bertha, sang in the choir and later assisted with the Central Treasury.
Today, he is an active member of the North Star Lodge #5 Prince Hall. Some of his other affiliations include a Life and Golden Heritage NAACP membership; the Southeast Community Association; American Legion Post #59; Better Business Bureau; Kent County Children's and Family Council Executive Board; Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce, National Wildlife Association, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Tour Experience.
Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he was a Grand Rapids Public Schools student who went on to college with goals of using his education and experience to help others with their varying needs.
Mr. Johnson came from humble beginnings, which included working in the 1960's as a 'clean - up man' and a soda jerk at Rydell's Drug Store. He also worked as a janitor's aide at various school buildings through the Neighborhood Youth Corps. From there, he served as a storeroom keeper's aide and garage helper at Consumer's Power Company.
In the 1970's, he acted as a licensed apprentice at James H. Cole's Home for Funerals.
And although he started off as a part - time employee running errands, doing removals and filing death certificates, he grew to coordinating arrangements and embalming.
It was his Wayne State University mortuary science education and compassion for people that led him to work at and eventually direct and acquire ownership of the oldest black - owned funeral parlor in Grand Rapids: Brown's Funeral Home. As a result, he is a member of the Funeral Directors Association on both state and national levels.
He says that his personal "endeavor in life is to assist as many people as possible from day - to - day by aiding them with funeral services and comfort during their period of bereavement."
This year's Giant of Giants holds the following as his personal belief: "If you haven't got what you want, take what you have and make what you want of it."
Mr. Johnson's life has been filled with accomplishments.
In his adolescence, he was a Junior Rotarian, Student Activities Board president.
That was only the beginning.
He earned 6 varsity letters in football, track and wrestling.
A 4.0 college graduate with distinction, he later received an Outstanding Young American Award and a Certificate of Merit from the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Club.
Additional past recognitions for this esteemed individual are many, and the following is a partial list: Outstanding Young American (1984, 1987); Baxter Community Center Certificate of Merit; Richard M. Kelly Memorial Award; Network Magazine Achiever Award (1995); Athena Award; Marcus Garvey Award (2017); Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance Business Achievement Award; Raymond K. Tardy Community Service Giants Award (1990) and Chamber of Commerce Appreciation Award (1991 - 1996).
In addition to his many accomplishments, he has always valued education and a commitment to lifelong learning.
This is evident in the way he was instrumental in the installation of the Grand Rapids Junior College Milo M. Brown Scholarship, which helps to offset tuition costs for students.
He is known by his acts of dedicated service and support, and he has garnered the respect of several generations of individuals and families through his business, his generosity and his reliability.
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