1. September 20, 1916 - April 9, 2015
JohnnieJames Glenn Sr.
Celebrating the Life of
Johnnie James Glenn Sr.
September 20, 1916 - April 9, 2015
Friday, April 17, 2015
Bostick Temple COGIC
1448 Hodiamont Avenue, St. Louis, Mo. 63112
Elder Solomon Williams, Officiant
Pastor, New Jerusalem Cathedral COGIC
Processional
Opening Prayer, Elder Carl Terrell
Old Testament Reading, Elder Charles McElroy
Scripture: Psalm 23: 1-6
New Testament Reading, Minister Andrew Glenn Jr.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:-1-9
“I Can Only Imagine” by Tamela Mann
Sung by Angela L. Glenn, Granddaughter
Acknowledgements and Condolences, LaManda Robinson
Family Musical Tribute
“Total Praise” by Richard Smallwood, Sung by Granddaughters
Erica Williams, Lisa Fischer and Angela L. Glenn
Remarks from the Pulpit, Elder Solomon Williams
Family Reflections
Arthur Glenn, Donald Glenn, John Glenn and
Family Friend Susie Will Butler
Life Story (Read Silently)
(There Will Be) “Peace in the Valley”
Sermonic Solo
“Healing” by Richard Smallwood
Sung by Meaghan Williams McNeal
Eulogy, Elder Solomon Williams
Parting View
Benediction, The Reverend T.D. Stubblefield
Pastor, First Baptist Church of Chesterfield
Recessional
Thank you for acknowledging our pain and sharing our grief. We
are grateful to all of you who have expressed sympathy and
concern. It has greatly lightened this burden of sorrow. We ask that you
continue to keep us in your hearts and in your prayers.
With sincere appreciation,
The Family of Johnnie Glenn
A soft word turneth away wrath,
but grievous words stir up anger! Proverbs15:1
These are the words our father lived by and one of the many scriptures he
used to minister to every person he encountered that needed a word from
God! He was a man with an incredible, God-given meek and humble spirit.
I thank God for him choosing my mother (a powerful woman of God) and
then blessing them with me and my five wonderful siblings, showing us all
life has to offer through loving God, your family and others. God gave you
and Mama the torch; you both passed it to us. Thank you Lord. Daddy, we
are all striving to see you and Mama in heaven! To God be the glory! Words
could never express my love and appreciation for all that you have been to
me and taught me. You were truly an example for both men and women!
With All My Love, Alice
Pallbearers
Terran McDonald Terrance McDonald David E. Glenn Jr.
David L. J. Glenn Timothy Glenn Donald L. Glenn Jr.
Mark A. McDonald Sr. James Glenn
Honorary Pallbearers
Johnnie J. Glenn Jr. Donald L. Glenn Sr. David E. Glenn Sr.
Bruce McDonald Aaron Arthur Glenn
Interment
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
2900 Sheridan Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63125
RepastFirst Baptist Church of Chesterfield
17103 Wild Horse Creek Road
Chesterfield, Mo. 63017
Arrangements by Austin Layne Mortuary

2. Johnnie James Glenn Sr.
Survivor, Provider, Entrepreneur, Amateur Comedian, Role Model
All of us who knew and loved Johnnie J. Glenn Sr. were awe-
struck by the fierce strength that was masked by his easygoing
approach to life.
Johnnie was born September 20, 1916, in Colum-
bus, Mississippi, the third of James and Alma Jones
Glenn’s ten children. The family soon moved to
East St. Louis, Illinois, seeking work. What they
found was the bloody 1917 East St. Louis race riot.
They hid along the banks of the Mississippi River
during the turmoil, then returned to Columbus,
the place they had sought to escape for a better life
“up North.”
Seeds of Survival
He was raised on a farm in Columbus, Mississippi where
family values, hard work and responsibility provided the
foundation for the man he was to become.
Before leaving Columbus, he worked on the farm as well as
for Johnson Furniture Company and the Mississippi Depart-
ment of Transportation.There he claimed to have single-
handedly built U.S. Highway 82 across the state.
World War II called and Johnnie served with the U.S.
Army Air Corps as a cook at Shepard Field in Wichita
Falls, Texas, from 1942 to 1945. In 1943, he returned
to Columbus to marry his sweetheart, Evelyn Harris.
They had planned to stay in Texas after his dis-
charge; however, one dust storm too many and they
headed to St. Louis.
Johnnie arrived in the city with an honorable
discharge and a fifth-grade education. He was
determined to continue his education, which had
been interrupted by work in the cotton fields. He
enrolled in night school for his basic education. He learned
shoe repair and took auto body courses –skills he would later use to supplement
the family’s income.
The Glenn household was soon bustling with little ones, so Johnnie worked harder.
He became part-owner of two small restaurants and worked more than 30 years in
government for the U. S. Army Medical Depot and the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs.
His work ethic was coupled with a no-nonsense belief in respect and responsibility.
Generally, Johnnie left the day-to-day discipline of the children to Evelyn, but the
threat of his rare intervention helped keep everybody in line. No one wanted to
hear Evelyn say “wait until I tell your father.”
All Work and No Play …
Johnnie was constantly looking for ways to make ends
meet. He shopped at thrift stores, did light haul-
ing and indulged in his pride and joy hobby and
income source: recycling. Some called it “junking,”
but Johnnie had it down to a science and to him,
“trash” hardly existed. Copper and aluminum were
the mainstays; however, paper, glass and rags were
fair game too. At some point, all of the children
became unwilling participants in his recycling endeavors.
As hard as he worked, he played harder. The man some
called “Cakie” enjoyed nothing more than a good laugh. He
was often the source, and at his own instigation, the subject,
of many laughs. Someone once remarked that he would
speak to a light post – and try to make it laugh.
Johnnie’s well-known frugality was sometimes a source of
amusement. There was the occasion of a trip he and Evelyn
took to Bowling Green, Mo. to buy chickens for nine cents
per pound. Upon arrival, they learned that the low price was
for live chickens. Undaunted, he loaded his Cadillac with 100 live chickens and
headed back to St. Louis where 99 were dressed and appeared on the dinner table
for the remainder of the year. One chicken, later named Sylvia, escaped the chop-
ping block and lived in the neighborhood for a year, making her urban family the
object of many jokes: neighbors said the Glenns had a “watchchicken.”
He was known to be a sharp dresser. When asked to appear in a local United Way
video, Johnnie not only agreed, but volunteered his home for the taping. His only
question: “What should I wear?” He was told “casual” clothing. He was taped
wearing a three-piece suit, crisp white shirt and a necktie, with a handkerchief
tucked in his breast pocket. A matching hat sat at the ready, just in case there
was any outdoor shooting.
A major turn in Johnnie’s life came when, after more than 22 years of living in
“the projects,” he was able to purchase a home for his family. His handyman skills
were brought to bear as he transformed that home into his “castle,” where he
reigned until his transition on April 9, 2015.
A Family Mourns
Johnnie was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved Evelyn in 1998, two
children who died in infancy, Joseph and Johnny, and eight siblings, Reubin Glenn,
Carrie Covington, Ossie Glenn, Idella Darnell, D.D. McKinley Glenn, Joseph Glenn,
Andrew David Glenn and Alice Meriwether.
He will be dearly missed by his children, Johnny J. (Bettye) Glenn Jr., Dardenne
Prairie, Mo.; Donald Leroy Glenn Sr., Alice M. Glenn-Houghs, Deborah L. (Bruce)
McDonald, David E. Glenn Sr. and Ida Denise Glenn, all of St. Louis; a brother,
Albert (Lilly) Glenn, Memphis, Tenn.; 20 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, 7
great-great-grandchildren and a multitude of other family and friends.
Johnnie also grew up with first cousins Camille
Phillips, Linda Darnell, Pamela Darnell and Aaron
Arthur Glenn and the late Elaine Darnell.
I’m Going to Live the Life I Sing
About in My Song
Johnnie’s life story can be summed up by the
lyrics of one of his favorite songs:
“I’m gonna live the life I sing about in my song
I’m gonna stand for right and I always shun wrong
If I’m in the crowd, If I’m alone
On the streets or in my home
I’m gonna live the life I sing about in my song”…
BACK (L-R): Johnnie Jr., Johnnie Sr., David, Evelyn, Donald / FRONT (L-R): Alice, Ida, Deborah
BACK (L-R): Alice, Andrew, Johnnie, Ossie, D.D. McKinley, Joseph, Albert
FRONT (L-R): Carrie, Idella, James, Alma, Reubin