title
An ordinance providing the honorary street name designation of “Rev. J. H. Johnson Way” for a portion of 4th Avenue North.
body
WHEREAS, James Houston Johnson was born on July 18, 1926 to Andrew H. Johnson and Annie Mae Bowens in Triune, Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, in 1941, he was baptized at Greater Hebrew Baptist Church. He went on to serve in the United States Army for four years during World War II; and
WHEREAS, he began to explore preaching in 1946 and, in 1954, Johnson attended the American Baptist Theological Seminary. He then moved his membership to Shiloh Missionary Baptist church; and
WHEREAS, on the second Sunday in April 1956, he was appointed interim pastor of the Cowan Street Missionary Baptist Church located at 1717 4th Avenue North in the Salemtown neighborhood of Nashville; and
WHEREAS, on August 26, 1956, the congregation unanimously voted Reverend J. H. Johnson to be the pastor of the Cowan Street Missionary Baptist Church, where he served faithfully and dedicatedly for forty years; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Johnson passed away on June 19, 1997, after a long battle with chronic illness, which he bore with courage and patience; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Johnson married Anna Lee Scott-Johnson in 1942. They lived a loving and happy life together until she passed away after 41 years of marriage. They had six children -- James E. Johnson, Delois J Dalton, Joann Johnson, Arlene Wolf, Rutie D. Holt and Andrew H. Johnson, Sr - and 19 grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 13.08 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws provides for the designation of honorary street names and signs without amending the Official Street and Alley Acceptance and Maintenance Map for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, and without requiring residents and businesses to change their address.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That 4th Avenue North between Buchanan Street and Garfield Street is hereby designated with the honorary street name of “Rev. J. H. Johnson Way”.
Section 2. This honorary street designation will not require any resident or business located on 4th Avenue North to change its street address.
Section 3. The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure is hereby authorized and directed, upon the enactment and approval of this Ordinance, to install the appropriate signing designating this section of roadway as “Rev. J. H. Johnson Way” in accordance with 13.08.025 of the Metropolitan Code.
Section 4. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This ordinance adds the honorary street name designation of “Rev. J. H. Johnson Way” for a portion of 4th Avenue North between Buchanan Street and Garfield Street.
Section 13.08.025 of the Metro Code provides a procedure for the designation of honorary street signs whereby the Council, by ordinance, can authorize and direct the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure to install two honorary street signs per street - at each end of a street - beneath the official street name sign for any street identified on the official Street and Alley Centerline Layer map. No honorary street sign can be installed honoring a living person; and each member of Council can sponsor only one such ordinance each calendar year. This ordinance does not officially re-name the designated street. Therefore, there would be no change of official address for properties along this portion of 4th Avenue North.