Volier ‘Maffie’ Johnson — Father and friend who ‘coloured our lives’

Many humorous stories were shared on Tuesday about Volier ‘Maffie’ Johnson, the master of comedic timing, the man for all seasons, the point person at every event who would ensure that everyone was taken care of, and also the man who would mercilessly jive a person into tears. But it was Volier the caring father and grandfather who towered like a giant at the thanksgiving service for the life of the beloved film and stage actor, held at the Webster Memorial United Church.

His friend of 40 years, Errol ‘Teddy’ Price, in paying tribute to “the God-fearing humble giant who I called Poo,” reminisced about the hours that he, Oliver Samuels and Johnson spent chatting about their dreams and aspirations while sitting on the graves at the St Andrew Parish Church, missing every bus on the route, until they had no choice but to walk home in the wee hours of the morning. He hailed Johnson as an accomplished actor who “could lift everything off the page and bring it to life,” and recounted a story of going to the studio to do a radio commercial, and Johnson took the script, assigned roles to him and Carl Bingham and played around with it, while the real producer, Radcliffe Butler, was busy talking to the engineer. Butler subsequently got their attention and told them thanks and that they could leave. As it turned out, he had been recording their interaction, and he said he “got exactly what he wanted”.

PROUD FATHER AND GRANDFATHER

And, in a society where fathers too often abdicate their roles, Price paid respect to Johnson, the proud father and grandfather. “Volier was a family man who took the business of parenting seriously. He doted on his children,” Price noted, adding that when the grandchildren came along, Johnson could be found at their schools waiting to do pick up. “And it was a look of joy when that child came out to him,” he added.

The children echoed these sentiments. “We laughed a lot, not because our father was a comedian, but because we were in a happy home,” Johnson’s big son shared. However, before he could expand, the tears that were possibly provoked by Price’s emotion-filled ending – ‘Dis yah one yah lick hot. Yuh gone lef we. We will never forget you, Poo, you coloured our lives” – came spilling out, and another family member had to take over.

The Johnson clan painted the picture of a father who “was not a disciplinarian, but was disciplined” and “our appearance was important to him”. Volier, they revealed, was the father who was their friend and confidante with whom they would have discussions while he was cleaning the mud off their shoes and getting their socks out for school. “He was undeniably the genuine article of a caring human being,” and the children, while mourning their tremendous loss, were still able to “celebrate a champion among men”.

Joining the intimate ceremony was Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange, who, despite “juggling 10 different things,” had to be present at the final curtain call for the man who distinguished himself as the character ‘Maffie’ in Jamaica’s first sitcom, Oliver at Large. Quoting from Shakespeare’s As You Like It, Minister Grange noted, “All the world’s a stage/And all the men and women merely players/They have their exits and their entrances/And one man in his time plays many parts.” Volier, she said, epitomised this.

“His everlasting smile, which was almost like a billboard displaying his personality, put me at ease and made it so easy to relate to him. Volier was truly one of a kind,” Grange stated.

Musical selections came from DiMario McDonald, Dean Fraser, Dwight Richards and Volier’s young grandson, Matthew, of whom Oliver Samuels said at a celebration of life on Monday, “Volier love dis yah one yah, yuh see.”

‘GREAT VOID’

The family had promised that the ceremony would be live-streamed, and more than 600 of Maffie’s fans and friends showed up to pay their tributes. Among them were Ruth Ho Shing, who stated, “Will miss you dearly, Volier. Rest well and see you when I see you. You have left a great void, but thanks for the memories and the laughter.” And long-time friend Pauline Stone Myrie said, “My dear friend of 52 years, rest well. Dear Kessoon (Johnson’s widow), I’m there in spirit.”

Johnson, who would have celebrated his 70th birthday in December, suffered a heart attack on July 9 and was rushed to the Kingston Public Hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead. He had been a staple on the theatre scene for some 50 years and had received numerous accolades, including the Order of Distinction from the Government for his service to theatre.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com