Lionel “Bill” Johnson – The End of an Era
If I had to use one word to describe my dad it would be enigmatic. This tall, dark and handsome man was a complex character with a tough exterior, but soft core. As his eldest child, I observed his strengths and weaknesses as a human being with objectivity. I often felt a sense of pride, because he was so well known and respected by many Barbadians. He did not emigrate like many of his peers. When I asked him why he never left, he always said that there was no place in the world like Barbados.
Above all, I admired the professionalism with which he pursued his career in the Barbados Police Force for almost 40 years, which gained him a good reputation. He acquired extensive knowledge of policing by attending various courses in the US and UK which helped to improve his service to the public. This was recognized by many Barbadians because when we travelled around the island, people would always shout “Bill” and he would wave and stop to have a chat and reminisce. This continued after his retirement which meant that he made a positive lasting impression on the lives of many people during his 76 years of life. As part of my own career, I worked with security and justice professionals in many countries around the world and feel able to say that my dad was on par with the best I have seen. I also know that he was not a yes man and would give his views directly, unreservedly and hold his position.
We had a good relationship because as two people we took the decision to respect and understand each other and moreover love unconditionally. Not many parents and children reach this level of understanding even when living under the same roof. Operating on the basis that no one is perfect, I think we did pretty well despite the distance between us. I last saw my dad in February2020, not knowing that this would be the last time I would see him alive. I am so pleased that I decided to take this spontaneous trip just before the Covid-19 lockdown, otherwise I would have missed this last contact and the opportunity to celebrate his birthday.
On Sunday 27th June, just hours before his death he was surrounded over lunch by those who loved and cared about him. I was told that after lunch he wanted to drink tea, which was unusual for him in the afternoon. He said that he wanted “African tea” which he made without milk and sugar, just the teabag. I know he was thinking about me in those final hours because this is exactly how I drink my tea and he always teased me that it tasted bad. He also referred to me as an “African” because of my years spent working on the continent. This was always a private joke between us. At the same time, God was also preparing me for what was to come even though I did not know it at the time. The bible passage John 11:25 …. I am the resurrection and the life, came strongly to my mind. It kept going around in my head until I looked it up. But I thought it was not meant for me and I sent it to someone who had lost a relative a week earlier. Hours later when I heard that Dad died suddenly this passage came back into my mind even stronger than before. This time I read it knowing that the message was for me. I felt comforted, as the message reminded me that even though our bodies will die, everything else we are, whether we call it spirit, soul or personality will not die. We are simply making a transition from life in this world, to life in the next. This is the end of your era, so rest peacefully Dad. I will always remember you.
