Barry Willis Johnson

Barry Willis Johnson died after a long battle with Pancreatic Cancer on April 25, 2017 surrounded by family.  He was 59 years old. On December 29, 1993, Barry married his high school girl friend Cynthia Wright at the same church where they meet in 1973, Christ Congregational Church in Silver Spring Maryland. Barry and Cyndy shared a dedication to church work especially the Retreat House in West Virginia, to EMS education and to volunteer work in the MSFA. Barry is survived by his two adult children, Jordan Tyler Johnson and Jessica Lyn Johnson. Barry is preceded in death by his father, Keith Willis Johnson and mother Carolyn Love Baria Johnson.  He is survived by this brothers Erik (Kendra), Stefan, and Leslie (Mae), Sister in Law Betty Laffan (John) and mother in law Dr. June Wright, nieces Marilyn (Neil), Bethany and Nicole, nephews Nicholas, Jacob, Timothy and David, and grandniece Diana, and many cousins on both coasts.  Barry was born in New York on Long Island and moved to Silver Spring Maryland in the late 1960’s. Barry graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in 1975.  He attended Montgomery College, Jackson State University and Virginia Tech majoring in Business Administration.  He returned to school at University of Maryland University College and completed a second degree in Computer Science in 2005.  Barry was an avid runner and was joined by his daughter Jessica in many 5 and 10K races for charity. Most recently the entire extended family has participated in the Purple Stride walk/run for Pancreatic Cancer in DC and Baltimore.  Even during Chemotherapy, Barry participated in the first MSFA Cancer Support walk in 2016 and was planning to register for 2017.  When not programing computers for work, he created websites and Facebook pages for American Trauma Society, Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad, Blair High School, Prince George’s and Maryland State Firemen’s Association and his church.  Barry shared his love of cooking and grilling with family and friends on any occasions – sun, rain or snow.  His love of entertaining with food came from years of working in the food and beverage industry (Sir Walter Raleigh’s followed by Marriott).  A past time his son Jordan continues to enjoy.   Barry Johnson started his public safety career in Montgomery County in high school as a cadet at Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad as part of the Scout Cadet program while attending Blair High School.  During his life time he was a member of BCC (Montgomery County), Providence VFD (Baltimore County) Bel Air VFD (Harford County) Hillandale VFD (Montgomery County) and in September 1999, he transferred to Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad in Prince George’s County to focus on EMS and Rescue. During the past 15 plus years at LVRS 49 Barry has served in a number of leadership roles including 10 years on the Board of Directors and President of the BOD for three years. Barry’s professional background in Information Technology provided him with additional skills to develop first a web presence for LVRS and then a Facebook. Over the years he has mentored other members in both the programming and the responsibilities that go with social media in public safety. Barry also served at the county and regional level on the Emergency Education Council of MIEMSS Region V and the Prince George’s County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association.  Barry’s involvement naturally extended to the Maryland State Firemen’s Association as a delegate, committee member and committee chair. He is a member of both the Prince George’s County and Maryland State Firemen’s Association Hall of Fame.  Barry worked in Section 508 /Web Accessibility for the past 17 years with the FAA, DHHS, DHS, and most recently with Department of Education and Office of Civil Rights.  As member of the Deque Systems Inc Corporation, he enjoyed working with a team of experts that shared one goal – making information accessible to everyone.