Rev. John "Jack" Johnson was a pastor from Mississippi who helped bring over 100 families from the South to Albany, NY between 1937-1957 to escape oppression, earning him the nickname of a "Modern Day Harriett Tubman." He established churches in Albany to serve the migrant community, including the first daycare center for low-income families. Johnson continued his pastoral work in Albany for over 60 years until 2000, improving the lives of many migrants from the South through his rescue efforts and community leadership.

1. John (Jack) Johnson
“A Modern Day Harriett Tubman”
Southern Migration Dates: 1933-2000
Rev. John “Jack” Johnson was born on August 17, 1909, in the red clay hills of
Shubuta Mississippi. Between eighteen or nineteen years of age, Johnson
accepted Christ and was a youth leader in Shubuta who organized and inspired
young people to live a wholesome life. While living in Albany, New York and
serving in the Master’s vineyard he became Elder Jack Johnson.
In 1933, Johnson was amongst the third group of migrants from Shubuta,
Mississippi that Louis W. Parson brought to Albany. It has been said, that by
the time Parson reached Albany there were sixteen people in the three-seated
vehicle. Parson was known to pick people up along the way from Mississippi to
Albany, New York. Johnson arrived in Albany’s South End with a few pairs of
pants, a few shirts and maybe a jacket. Louis W. Parson was a traveling
preacher and planter of churches. When the itinerant preacher was not there,
Johnson served as the leader of the little local church in that community.
Johnson admired the work Parson was doing because when law officials
started harassing Parson, Johnson took up the cause. Between 1937 and 1957,
Johnson began to bring migrants from the South to Albany, NY. Johnson was
responsible for “rescuing” one hundred families from the South and driving
them to Albany. Johnson was quoted once saying,
“I saw all that suffering, all that agony, so I said to myself that someday
I’m going to do something about….One time I had twelve people in one car, but
they had no choice if you wanted to get out of bondage.”
Johnson’s tactics of “rescuing” his people from the South were carefully
thought out. He would beep his horn upon arrival in town. Later that same
night, he would drive quietly onto a plantation and hoot softly, like a dove.
Then people quietly sneaked off the plantation into his waiting car or bus.

2. Sometimes the 1,300-mile ride took two and a half days,
“Old car, bad road….I wanted this long suffering people to be lifted out of
oppression.”
Johnson was known as a “Modern Day Harriett Tubman” for bringing over one
hundred families out of the deep-south, State of Mississippi to Albany, New
York.
Nora Lee McCann remembered her trip North with Elder Jack Johnson.
“We had fourteen people in the car. We came up Route 11 and we just
tried to make it to the Mason Dixon Line, and I just wanted to see Albany. I just
wanted to see the streets. I had twenty cents in my pocket. I bought ice cream
for ten cents and had ten cents when I got here (Albany). Elder Jack Johnson
brought me here.”
Emma Dickson stated
“That like Parson, Johnson also upset law officials. Mississippi law
officials supposedly put a bounty on Johnson’s head.”
In March 1952, Johnson established Church of God and Christ #3 (now known
as St. John’s Church of God in Christ) located on 7 Dongan Avenue in the South
End of Albany. Johnson, his wife, Dorothy Charles and their seven children
represented a small but faithful band of people who worshiped together. The
church grew under his leadership. Recognizing the need for larger space, in
1954, the congregation moved to a storefront located at 193 Green Street.
In the early 1960’s the church established the first day care and nursery for low
income families in the City of Albany. They offered full day care, nursery
services, to its members and families who lived in the community. Members of
the church successfully ran the day care center for more than fifteen years
under the leadership of Johnson and his designated directors.

3. During the late 1960’s and the beginning of the early 1970’s there was a
tremendous flock of young people getting saved and joining the church.
Johnson loved the youth in his church and he focused on their needs by
creating activities geared toward them. Activities such as “The Youth Circle,”
the “Youth Crusade Ministries” and the “St. John’s Drum Corp, Majorette’s and
Drill Teams” were just a few.
In 1971 Johnson was appointed as the 1st District Superintendent for the
Western NY Jurisdictional Churches of God in Christ in the Capital District Area.
He also received an honorary Doctorate Degree of Humanity that was
conferred on him by the Albany Community Association for the Poor. Though
he never used his doctorate title, he was indeed a Doctor of souls and
mankind.
Again in 1974, St. John’s COGIC found it necessary to relocate to accommodate
its growing congregation. The new location was much larger. It was a Jewish
Orthodox Synagogue located at 94 Herkimer Street. Elder Jack Johnson
continued to pastor until the year 2000. On July 4, 2004 Johnson went home to
be with the Lord.
In August of 1998, the Albany Common Council and Mayor Gerald H. Jennings
signed a Legislative Decree to change Herkimer Street between South Pearl
and Green Street, to “Rev. John (Jack) Johnson Way” in honor of Johnson’s
social and community services to the Albany community, especially the South
End for over sixty years.