Central city street sign honors St. Mark s pastor

6/7/2008

The Rev. I.J. Johnson has led his congregation at St. Mark s Church for 52 years and yesterday a street sign was unveiled in his honor nearby at Detroit and Fernwood avenues.

The event follows approval Tuesday by Toledo City Council of an ordinance sponsored by Councilman Wilma Brown to designate the street as Rev. I.J. Johnson Way.

Pastor Johnson has been pastor of the church since 1956 and is commonly called the dean of Toledo pastors within the central city.

The honorary street-naming is the last in a series of three designed to honor three senior pastors in the central city.

Also honored was the Rev. John Roberts of Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church and the Rev. Robert Wormley of Southern Missionary Baptist Church.