Birth date: Feb 1, 1937 Death date: Aug 22, 2025
Dennis Gayle Johnson passed into the arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, August 22, 2025, with his family at his side. Gayle (as his family and friends called him when he was young) was the only child born to Tommie and Read Obituary
Mr. Johnson was a fair vice principal at west Jr high ,I know I was a bit of a hooligan in the day ,Mr J always greeted me with a smile and words of encouragement to make me feel more confident in school,I would stop and chat with him years after school as I lived on Cloverdale dr. 2 streets over from Him ,he was always doing something in his yard and I wanted him to know he had made a impression on me to be a better student and citizen, thank you Mr.Johnson ...RIP
I met Dennis in 1977 when I was assigned to Bowie as the Assistant Principal. In that one year I gained respect for him as a principal and a man. His quiet demeanor was deceiving and masked his strong leadership. It was an excellent experience for me as I had never worked with such a low-keyed principal. He was excellent in his position, and Bowie was an outstanding school. He was respected by his peers, and I remember that when we had meetings with topics or issues to discuss, he was not the first to speak or the loudest, but everyone wanted to know what he thought. He was the voice of reason. I appreciate the influence he had on my career and the lives of so many teachers and children.
I believe he was the same fine person outside of his professional life. He helped others and was an active member of his church. He spoke often of Jean and of Darby and Darrin, and I know he loved and was proud of his family.
My sincere condolences to his family.
James A Smith
We grew up next door to the Johnsons. For 66 years they were the best neighbors anyone could hope for. Even though I'm in my 60s, I've never felt comfortable calling him Dennis, it was always "Mr. Johnson". All of us kids on the block knew he was a coach, assistant principal, and principal so we had a great respect for him. Obviously he was not the "mean" kind of coach or principal. He was always soft spoken, kind and friendly. He and my dad were always on good terms. It was always amazing seeing how much energy he had, even well into his 80s. He was constantly working on his lawn or building something or making home improvements. Because his house was on the corner, it served as the "gateway" to Magnolia Dr. It was the first house people would see when they turned onto our street. Mr. Johnson took that unofficial responsibility seriously. His yard and house were always immaculate. Darrin and Darby, we will miss your mom and dad, the best neighbors ever, but it gives us peace knowing they are together again in heaven today.
