Tribute to Eric Johnson (short version)
Tribute to Eric Johnson
(short version)
My brother from Phoenix, Gilbert, Arizona
By Ted Hayes
Eric and I first met in the spring of 2010, during the controversy around Arizona Senate Bill 1070, authored by the late Senator Russell Pearce.
Our friendship started in a funny way.
I kept calling the Senator’s office from Los Angeles. My team and I—African American U.S. citizens, federalized under the 1866 Civil Rights Act and the 14th Amendment—wanted to express our support for his courage on that bill and let him know we were willing to come to Arizona and stand with him.
Well, after enough of my persistence, the receptionist finally passed my message to Eric, who at that time was Senator Pearce’s special assistant, and of course was rightly skeptical of this strange, but persistent, wacky, black guy from LA.
Eric figured anyone who was determined at least deserved to be heard.
As soon as we started speaking, we hit it off.
That very first call turned into the beginning of a wonderful, sixteen-year brotherhood.
Over the years, I came to know Eric’s beautiful family. I became something like a big brother or uncle to his children, Stephan and Ana, and I grew to deeply admire his wonderful wife, Q, a true servant queen with an amazing spirit.
Whenever I visited Phoenix–Gilbert, that small but mighty family always welcomed me with warmth and hospitality.
One thing about Eric always stood out to me.
In all the years I knew him, I never once heard him complain about his health. Not once.
No complaining about pain. No complaining about circumstances.
Instead, Eric stayed faithful, joyful, and grateful—always trusting in The LORD Jesus and ABBA, our Heavenly Father.
Eric and I spent many long hours on the phone laughing.
That man could tell stories like nobody else—especially his famous, crazy, adventures of “Erfel.”
We even joked about doing a comedy routine together called:
“The Stand-Up / Sit-Down Show: The Cripple and the Black Guy.”
Sometimes he had me laughing so hard I had to tell him:
“Eric—STOP! My sides hurt!” He was just that funny.
But we also had deep conversations about faith, politics, immigration, homelessness, and healing relations between people in America.
Eric also used his digital talents to help build our website called “The 740,000,” honoring the men who died in the Civil War in the struggle to end slavery.
For a while we even co-hosted a small radio podcast together.
Eric also had a deep love for Israel and the Jewish people, believing strongly in the Biblical command to bless the children of Israel.
He even designed a beautiful resort concept that he hoped one day might be built in Israel.
God willing.
But perhaps the most powerful thing about Eric was his faith.
Seeing how he lived made people like me stop and ask ourselves:
“What am I complaining about?”
Here was a man facing challenges most of us cannot imagine—yet living with joy, gratitude, and faith.
Then Eric did something that truly amazed me.
He began writing articles and producing videos using only his eyes, through assistive technology.
When I saw that, I was blown away.
Eric had a spirit that everyone felt.
His positivity. His faith in the Lord. His joy in life.
If you spoke with him on the phone, you might not even realize the physical challenges he faced.
But when you met him, you understood you were in the presence of someone very special.
And we must also honor Q.
A woman of strength and faith who stood beside Eric with love, raising their children and serving quietly with the heart of a faithful handmaid of the Lord.
Eric may have been physically small, but in spirit he was a giant of faith—and Q stood by his side.
So today we thank The Most High for the gift of Eric Johnson.
A brother. A friend. A man of humor. A man of faith.
May his life remind us all how to live—with faith, gratitude, and joy.
Agape-Shalom