MOSES JOHNSON was born on November 12,1947 in Panama City Beach, Florida to Jewel Johnson and George Dunford. Moses had three sisters: Lucy, Linda and Pat. In 1956, Moses moved to Buffalo, New York to live with his grandmother. He attended School No. 31 for grade school, then went on to attend Silver Creek High School, and later East High School, where he graduated.
Shortly after gradation, he was drafted to serve in the United States Military in the Vietnam War. Moses served for three years and was honorably discharged as an E4 Specialist with a Vietnam Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and four overseas bars.
Upon returning home from Vietnam, Moses married and had his first child, Moses Johnson II, and attended Buffalo State College with a major in Education. After college, Moses met two of his closest friends, Lamont Burley and Sam Smith. The trio went on to create LSM Productions (aka Lamont, Sam and Moses). Together, they provided entertainment for the nightlife in the Buffalo Community.
After building up his resume in nightlife, Moses went on to work for Rick James as his personal security guard. While working for Rick, he met the love of his life and current wife, Diane. They went on to have a daughter, Allison, and together they raised a beautifully blended family with four children: Moses Johnson II, Khalil Saadiq, Michael Wolf (Tamika) and Allison Johnson. Moses ended his tenure working with Rick and went on to work as a Corrections Officer for Erie County. He officially retired from Erie County Correctional Facility in 2004.
In 1997, Moses rededicated his life to Christ and returned to the same church he was baptized in at the age of 12, Mount Olive Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Pastor William Gillison. He served on the Trustee Ministry and the Security Ministry. He enjoyed serving the Lord and the fellowship he shared with the men of Mt. Olive. He loved fishing, cooking, entertaining at his home and reading his bible.
In 2017, Moses would be diagnosed with cancer, and with God’s grace and mercy he was cancer free by 2018. However, in 2021, he began his battle with Congestive Heart Failure and on February 20, 2023, Moses went home to be with his Lord.
Moses leaves to cherish his memories, his wife, his children, and his grandchildren: Khalil Saadiq, Jr., Tyreek Wolfe, Keiasha Wolfe, Ayanna Wolfe, Nasir Saadiq, Xavier Wolfe and Christopher Spence, Jr., along with a host of other relatives and friends.
Moses loved his wife, and his family but most of all he loved the LORD!
The family will receive friends Saturday, February 25, 2023, 10 AM at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 701 East Delavan Avenue. Funeral to follow at 11 AM. Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery.
