God bless you. Thanks for coming over to our fundraiser.
Click link to review Juneteenth Festival.
When I heard about Bob Johnson being hospitalized with congestive heart failure… it hit me hard because I’ve known Bob as a servant of the community for decades. Look at that picture of Bob and his youngest daughter closely.
Bob has a big heart, and it’s been suffering pain for a while now. It makes me heavy even to have to share this link with you. I can feel the tears coming to my eyes right now. They say a big heart is a good thing, and for Mr. Bob Johnson, it was always a blessing.
Yet, after years of decline, the past months have been hard on me seeing his decline. I’m just a friend, so imagine how it’s been on Bob and his family. To worry about losing your heart, your home and other belongings all while trying to carry the weight of community on your back—that can make anyone sick.
So … let me tell you a little bit about Bob Johnson.
In the early nineties, he started and advocated for a natural hair movement when natural hair was not popular or accepted. He told women their own natural hair was a better alternative than straightening combs, relaxers and other hazardous chemical hair products. He also co-founded a natural hair line of products and spearheaded educational seminars covering the benefits of natural hair and put together and promoted a natural hair show that attracted attendees from across the nation. He published two books on the subject. We can factually state that because of Bob’s decades of advocacy, in Georgia and around the nation, for natural hair, along with others like him, natural hair is now more accepted, and some may even consider it mainstream. Bob was very successful in naming, promoting, and growing the World Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Show in 1992.
After his run with the hair business in 2011 Bob elevated his vision to a broader demographic and founded his next outreach event and coined it the Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival, a family event that offered art, recreation, fitness, education, vending, STEM, family reunions and more. He based the event on liberty, justice and freedom. This increased the spirit of love and unity in Georgia. The spirit of Juneteenth spread far and wide and due to hard work and dedication Bob’s organization was also successful in making Juneteenth America’s newest holiday. Over a 14-year span to date he stayed faithful to the community and grew his event to be one of the largest Juneteenth events in the world attracting from 50k - 100k attendees.
Both events that Bob founded opened the door to numerous opportunities for vendors, entrepreneurs, and educators. Bob has always been an advocate for the community through volunteering with numerous Georgia based nonprofit organizations. This is proof of Bob’s big heart for us all.
We thank the doctors and nurses at Grady and Emory hospital. We thank all those who came to the aid of Bob Johnson. Will Bob’s ailment stop his vision for us—our community?
No, no, no! This is not stopping him from being the pillar our community still needs. We are not ready to let him go. His wisdom speaks from his hospital room, as he commands things like an earnest and humble general. That is Bob. You can bet that every nurse and doctor at Grady and Emory hospital now knows about his Juneteenth event.
While Bob’s health was on the decline finding himself often out of breath and severely tired, his livelihoods also declined. Bob has been dealing with his health decline for the past year.
Unfortunately, he hasn’t been as good at taking care of his self as he does everyone else. He doesn’t know how to do it all, that is what he has community for. One thing he does well is love us through his events, now it’s time for us to love him back.
Medical science is amazing, the September 9, 2025, open heart surgery was a success. Yet there are matters I bring to you to consider. Please pray and think carefully on these things. I am about to ask you for some donations for Bob to get through his four-month recovery period and catch up on some past due bills that are threatening his sustainability in numerous ways.
Bob is restricted; and this is hard for him, and that means he is getting even further behind on bills.
Plus, he still needs to eat, he needs treatment. He needs rest, he needs to catch up. No! No! No! I want him to get way ahead of these bills and not have to deal with that stress so he can concentrate on recovering.
Is it possible? You know it’s possible. If everyone gives a little Bob will have much.
Bob has never resisted giving the people of Georgia a hand, and now he needs us to lend a hand. We are calling on all guardian angels, heroes and sheroes to step up for Mr. Bob Johnson.
Yup, we need to hear from you please. Bob has always been a giver, but now it’s our turn to be the heart that gives back. Let’s get him back on his feet and out there, where he belongs, being the community role model for our babies at park festivals, producing parades, and family friendly concerts, at street fairs, or volunteering with other community non-profit organizations. Let’s do our part, so he can continue his God ordained assignment for unity, peace and freedom.
Let’s not leave our brother HANGING. We are stronger together. United we stand!
Again, the money will be used for bills, ongoing care, and household related expenses. His recovery will not be overnight it will be a minimum of 12 weeks where he can’t lift anything heavier than a milk carton. Every dollar you give counts today and will help Bob through this challenge.
One last thing before you decide how much you can afford to give. Have you ever heard the Harmonyville Collections story entitled: The Old Oak Tree. This is how it starts…..
The Oak tree on Maple Street fell during a big storm.
The tree had been there forever, giving shade and a home to many birds. But after the storm, it was a mess, lying right across Mrs. Eleanor’s yard. Mrs. Eleanor is a very old woman who lives alone, and she looked so sad just sitting on her porch.
The next morning, Mr. Mare—before he got sick—walked over to Mrs. Eleanor’s house with his chainsaw. Soon, another neighbor, Mr. David, showed up with his big truck to haul away the bigger pieces. Then came a whole crew of kids from the neighborhood, with their parents. They grabbed rakes and brooms and started cleaning up all the smaller branches and leaves.
The whole day, everyone worked together. Some of the mothers brought out lemonade and cookies for the hardworking crew. By evening, Mrs. Eleanor’s yard was clear and looked better than ever. She stood in her doorway with a huge smile, waving to everyone.
It was so much work for one person, but for a whole community, it was just one day. Just like Mr. Mare, that’s the kind of thing Mr. Bob has always done for others, and now, we get to do it for him.
Please give what you can and when you can because Mr. Bob deserves it. God bless you. I am starting this funding project with $1800.00 of my own personal funds and challenging 10 others to match me and this fund raiser is over. I’m aware that everyone can’t donate that amount we are accepting all donations for Bob no matter how big or how small. It all adds up in the end. Thank you for your time and support for my elder and mentor Mr. Bob Johnson.
Thank you. God bless you.
Organizer
