Emhonta Johnson
Dr. Emhonta Johnson, also known as “Monty” or “Snoop,” was born on June 6, 1974, in Akron, Ohio, to the union of William Gary Chambers and Jacqueline Johnson. He passed away at age 49 on the afternoon of March 1, 2024, surrounded by his loving family at The Heights Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Broadview Hts, Ohio, after valiantly battling cancer.
Emhonta cherished moments spent with his grandmother, Pauline, in his formative years fostering an early connection with God through their attendance at church. His academic journey began at Firestone High School, where his athletic abilities shone brightly, earning him a track scholarship to Grambling State University upon graduation in 1992. Transitioning to the University of Toledo, he pursued his passion in Biological Sciences, graduating with a B.A. in 1997. He believed in living life to the fullest, and embraced his thirst for knowledge. He embarked on his Ph.D. pursuit, and after passing the qualifying exam, relocated to Omaha, Nebraska in 2001, to delve into Cellular and Molecular Biology under the guidance of esteemed mentors, Drs. Margaret “Peggy” Wheelock and Keith Johnson. His dedication culminated in both matrimonial bliss with Sabrina in May 2003 and the conferral of his Ph.D. that August.
Emhonta moved his family back to Ohio after graduating to commence his illustrious career, melding academia with research at Metro Health and Case Western Reserve University. His commitment to education extended to the realm of teaching, imparting knowledge at Lakeland Community College before assuming the role of Assistant Professor at Cuyahoga Community College, where he later earned tenure. In 2020, he embarked on an entrepreneurial endeavor, following in the Chambers family’s footsteps, founding U-Ask-Logistics for remodeling homes. Despite an early retirement in 2023 due to health concerns, his legacy thrives through his unwavering dedication to education, mentorship, and community service. He served on the Board for both the ARC of Greater Cleveland as well as the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, and initiated the Adopt-A-Highway Program for his students.
Emhonta’s multifaceted persona extended beyond the academic realm, encompassing an eclectic array of hobbies and interests including sports, music, shooting, anime, video games, and technology. He was a devoted fan of the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Vikings, and Wu-Tang Clan. He found solace in his love for animals and had two of the best dogs, Sanity and Zaraki. He enjoyed cooking, with his mac-n-cheese eliciting widespread attention. He was an avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast. He bowled for many years at Freeway Lanes with his bowling brothers. He owned every version of XBox, and enjoyed playing Diablo with his family. He learned how to build and fix computers. Game Nights, baking treats, and online shopping were some of his favorite pastimes. However, you can’t talk about his interests without mentioning how he was so fresh and so clean from his head to his feet with his fresh locks to his fresh new haircut, to his specialty bow ties, t-shirts with funny sayings, colorful socks, and last but not least his Adidas Shoe Collection. He had more pairs than Stan Smith himself! He was the neighborhood dad and always had a house full. He especially enjoyed and took pride in spending time with his beautiful children. He was the happiest and best version of himself when all three were by his side. He loved to entertain and make sure people had a great time (If you never made it to a party at the Johnson’s you missed out!). If you needed him he was there for you. He was a jack of all trades and you never knew which wonderful or crazy side of him you were going to experience!
Emhonta was predeceased by his grandparents Plumer and Pauline Johnson, and Samuel and Ethel Chambers; father, William Gary Chambers; and the sweetest grandson, Zahir Dayvon Perry.
Emhonta leaves behind a rich tapestry of cherished memories, survived by his three amazing children, Ja’el Johnson, Elijah Johnson, and Jacqueline S. Johnson; beloved ex-wife, Sabrina Johnson; mother, Jacqueline Johnson, step-mother, Gwendolyn Chambers of N.C., brothers Dom Johnson, Segun Johnson, Nikko Johnson, and Kofree Johnson all of Akron; step-sisters Deidre Sperling of N.C. and Jaeda (Michael) Dancy of Akron, god sister, Tia Barry; special cousins Kurrissa Johnson, Sterling Fox Sr. (Jodi), and Jomo Johnson (Toni); The Ballard Family; and a host of his loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will forever celebrate his enduring legacy.
When recently asked what he thought was his greatest accomplishment, he stated, “people would think I would say it was my Ph.D., but it was loving my family and having the opportunity to be a great husband and father”.