Calvin “Chicken” Johnson
Calvin “Chicken” Johnson, 52, passed away at a hospital in La Crosse County, Wisconsin on November 30, 2020. Calvin was born on July 9, 1968, and he grew up in Milwaukee. He spent the last weeks of his life residing at the Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution in Wisconsin.
Calvin is remembered by his loved ones as being a jokester and a very caring soul. He never forgot birthdays, and he would send cards from prison to those he cared about. On the tribute wall of Calvin’s obituary page, Verna Lloyd wrote, “To Calvin 'Chicken' we Love U & Miss U now and 4Ever. The years have come & gone so Quickly from 'Hard-headed Kids to Adults of the same. We shall hold each other in Our heart, although Another Void tries 2 find a place here. It will Not Replace U, 4 LOVE will continue even after death. To My Auntie, B strong & continue 2 LOVE, Laugh, Live. I Love U All. Yours 4 always, LOVE: Verna Mae Lloyd.” Another anonymous loved one sent digital flowers to Calvin’s family with the message, “Sent with love and remembrance of memories we all made with Chicken. May he Rest In Peace he will be missed by many of us.”
Calvin was always worried about contracting COVID-19. His cellmate Randy Forsterling told Wisconsin Watch that Calvin insisted on wearing a mask at all times while sharing a cell with three other prison residents. Calvin kept a close eye on the fluctuating numbers of cases within the prison and in the surrounding areas across Wisconsin. With high blood pressure and asthma, Calvin knew he was at high risk for contracting the virus, and he requested to modify his sentence for health reasons on October 19, 2020. In the request, he wrote, “I was given 13 years for my crime. I was not given a death sentence.” Sadly, Calvin’s request was denied by Milwaukee County Judge Milton Childs a week later.
Calvin’s health got steadily worse over the course of the next month until he passed away on November 30 from complications due to COVID-19. Calvin’s niece, Sherita Johnson, said to Wisconsin Watch of her brother, “He shouldn’t have had to die like that. Calvin wanted to stay well enough to come home, and he never made it.” His older sister Jereldine Johnson added that she wanted to share Calvin’s story with the hope that it would incentivize better protections for incarcerated people. “I just don’t want my brother to die in vain,” she said.
Calvin was a beautiful soul who will be dearly missed by many. We mourn his loss.
This memorial was written by MOL team member Mary John with information from reporting by Vanessa Swales of Wisconsin Watch and an obituary by Serenity Funeral Home.