Wardell Ronald Johnson, December 24, 1984 - January 18, 2026

Wardell Ronald Johnson was born on December 24, 1984, at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and was raised by his devoted parents, Robert Carrington and Doris Carrington. From the very beginning, their steadfast support and belief in him encouraged his pursuit of education and affirmed his ability to achieve far more than others believed possible. Early in life, Wardell faced significant health challenges, which he met with remarkable courage. Through those experiences, he emerged brilliant, curious, and resilient, a young man marked by intelligence, creativity, and a smile that carried warmth and light wherever he went.

He spent most of his youth in the Washington, D.C. and Maryland area, excelling academically and creatively. Wardell possessed a rare breadth of gifts: a deep love of reading and music, a sharp scientific mind, and a lifelong dedication to martial arts. He was precocious, thoughtful, and deeply observant, always learning, always questioning, always becoming.

Wardell attended Largo High School before continuing his education at Howard University, a place that became the cornerstone of his identity. Howard was not simply where he studied, it was where he discovered purpose. Immersed in creative arts communities, Wardell became known as “Paper Bag Negro,” a name earned through his riveting poetry, spoken word, and singing. His voice was both artistic and prophetic, grounded in truth and humanity.

At Howard, Wardell came to believe deeply in legacy, the responsibility to build something meaningful and to leave the world better than he found it. It was also during this time that he began struggling with epilepsy, a challenge that demanded resilience, patience, and strength. Despite interruptions and hardship, Wardell persevered and officially completed his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Biology in 2014.

It was through Howard University that Wardell met the love of his life, Sandra St. Gerard Johnson, known affectionately to him as Sunny. Their connection was immediate and enduring. They became engaged in 2014, married in 2015, and welcomed their first daughter, Onyx Saintalia Johnson, in 2016. Wardell later earned his MBA from the University of Maryland in 2017, continuing his commitment to growth and leadership. In 2021, their family was completed with the birth of their second daughter, Laureate Ricardine Johnson.

Professionally, Wardell built a career in physical security consulting, leadership, and management. He served with distinction across multiple organizations before joining Blackstone Consulting, Inc., where he worked as the Regional Security Manager for Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic. Wardell loved his work, not for status, but for service. He took pride in uplifting security officers, reminding them that they were more than the uniforms they wore and that dignity, leadership, and worth lived within them.

After the birth of their daughter Onyx, the family settled in Bowie, Maryland, where Wardell rooted himself deeply in community. He found profound joy in his jiu jitsu family, especially through volunteering and teaching young children the discipline and confidence the sport fosters. In his spare time, Wardell also served as a substitute teacher throughout the D.C. area. One of his greatest joys was working with young minds and empowering children to see possibility in themselves.

Wardell cherished the Holy Trinity, BabyFe Bilingual and Inspire Dance communities whose care and love helped shape and support his daughters. Above all, Wardell was a devoted father. Fatherhood was his greatest strength, his proudest achievement, and the crowning jewel of his life. He loved being present. He loved naming his daughters. He loved celebrating their brilliance. He loved them with intention, tenderness, and unwavering pride.

That love extended beyond his home. Wardell eventually created a podcast titled Fathering While Blackto honor and uplift Black fathers. He understood that intentional fatherhood is powerful and that Black fathers are too often denied visibility, grace, and recognition. The podcast challenged stereotypes and created space for honesty, vulnerability, joy, fear, responsibility, and legacy. Fathering While Black was not about perfection. It was about showing up. It was an act of love for his children, for other fathers, and for a future where Black children grow up knowing they are cherished, protected, and worthy.

Wardell’s heart was pure and generous. His kindness was instinctive. He saw the best in people regardless of circumstance. It was rare to see Wardell without a smile, and even rarer to forget the way he made others feel seen and valued. Wardell knew God was real. He saw Him in all things, in human connection, in love, in service, and in the quiet sacredness of everyday life. Wardell lived fully, loved fiercely, and left a legacy rooted in purpose, presence, and profound humanity.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra St. Gerard Johnson, his beloved daughters, Onyx Saintalia Johnson and Laureate Ricardine Johnson, his parents Robert and Doris Carrington, his brother William Henry Rawls, sister Medina McCollough, brother Derrick Carrington and a loving host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, students, and community members whose lives are forever better because he was in them.