Johnny M. Clemons

Johnny, better known as J.D. by his close-knit family, was born on July 8, 1947, in Princess Anne County (now Virginia Beach) to Leomia Peebles and Woodrow Boone, who passed away a few months after he was born. Johnny was adopted by his stepfather, Levi Clemons whom Johnny loved and admired greatly for the love he showed and the wisdom he always poured into him.

He was raised in Crozierville (in the Churchland section of Portsmouth), one of two historically Black settlements that date back over 100 years, and spent many summers as a child in Hertford, NC on his grandfather, Sipp Peebles’, 100-acre farm.

   A 1965 graduate of Crestwood High School, he went on to attend Norfolk State University until he was drafted in 1968 where he was a member of the Army 101st Airborne for 3 years. Johnny returned from Vietnam with several medals:  National Defense Service, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign, Army Commendation, The Bronze Star, and was qualified as an Expert with the M-14 rifle.

Upon returning from Vietnam, he met and married his first wife, Bessie Harding, and from that union, his daughter Rachael Nicole was born. Sometime after the dissolution of that marriage, he turned his attention to fighting for justice on the local front.  Johnny became the civic league president and led the charge to change the name from Crozierville to Ebony Heights.

Some years later, he met and married his wife of 36 years, Regina Christopher, and two more children were added to the family: Andrew P. Jr and Chenne’ A. Christopher. He would go on to serve as Vice Chairman of the Portsmouth Public School Board, as well as on the Portsmouth City Council from 1990 to 1998. In 1994, Johnny was unanimously selected by the city council of Portsmouth to become Vice Mayor.

His more than 100 certificates and awards for public service range from the Hampton Roads Regional Transportation Commission, Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing, U.S. Department of Environmental Protection with the redevelopment of Washington Park, the Portsmouth Department of Parks and Recreation for recognition for the development of the Umoja Festival and its impact on tourism.

During his tenure at Faith Deliverance Christian Center in Norfolk, VA, Johnny developed, trained, and led a male mentorship program to foster black boys in a Christian-based rites-of-passage program for 11 years. He was a founding board member of the non-profit Uhuru African American Cultural Society, training local youth about their African heritage and providing edutainment workshops at colleges festivals, cultural, political, and universities. His work career spanned from government agencies, public school, and the security industry until the age of 76.

Left to cherish his memory, his beloved wife of 36 years, Regina D. Clemons. Daughter Rachael N. Clemons Watson (Michael, Sr.), Andrew P. Christopher (Sherry), Chenne’ A. Christopher (daughter). Grandchildren: Jason Rester, Michael Watson, II, (Jennifer) Trinity Watson, (Effie) Tre J. Holly, Andrew Jabari Christopher, Khalil R. Christopher, Deyana I. Christopher, Mikayla K. Watson, Miles A. Christopher, Alexander Christopher, Ahmad Christopher, Natural Christopher, Sharma Christopher, and Zenobia Christopher. His sister Sandra C. Clemons Tapper (VA), Brother Raiford D. Clemons (Maxine) Uncles: Filmore Clemons (VA) and Robert Daniels (MD); Aunts: Geraldine Lamar (NJ), Francis Cherry (CA), Magdalene Clemons (VA); Mary Pope (DC),  Russell Porter (NC) as well as a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. 

Johnny’s legacy continues through many cousins, nephews, and friends. He is predeceased by his father Levi Sr. (2016), his grandson, Julius Tyrus Thorn (2018), his mother Leomia (2022), his brother Levi, Jr. (2022) and his brother-in-law Trevor, (2024)