Johnnie Leonardo Killiebrew was born on May 22, 1931, in Macon, Georgia. He was the only child and beloved son of his mother, Pearl Lillian Washington. He was a young boy when he moved from Georgia to New York (Jamaica-Queens) and then to Passaic, New Jersey. In Passaic, he attended and graduated from elementary school and high school. After high school, he enlisted into the Army branch of military in November of 1951. He was honorably discharged in November of 1953. He met and married Ella Lee Sims in the late 1950s before relocating with her to Newark, New Jersey.

Johnnie took courses at Fairleigh Dickinson University for a short time before leaving school to start his career as a truck driver for Tuscan Dairy, formerly located in Union, NJ. He worked for the company for about 40 years before he retired in 1995. In that time, he worked other odd jobs. In the late 1970s, he was a security officer at Brick Towers apartment complex and University Hospital in Newark. In the early 1980s, he was a security officer at Saint James Towers, as well as an auxiliary police officer for the city of Newark.

Johnnie was known for his great style of dress and his charismatic personality. He was a friend to everyone from neighborhood locals to elected officials. For recreation, Johnnie loved to ride his motorcycle and would often meet up with friends at his favorite taverns for drinks and conversation such as Dick and Ann’s and Studio 27. He was a member of the Newark Masonic Lodge. He loved Lincoln Cadillacs. He was a master on the pool table and earned the nickname “Killer” amongst his friends and associates. Though he would always reply “That’s my name, not my game.”

Johnnie lived in Newark for most of his adult life. However, in his retirement, his biggest contributions to his community were made as a resident at the New Community Corporation senior building located at 265 Morris Avenue in Newark. He was “elected” the building’s president and in that role, he strived every day to change the quality of life for the residents there by being an advocate to get things changed in and around the building. He actively put events and outings together for residents to be involved in. He would always transport seniors in his own car to various places they needed to go. He believed it was just a small price to pay to help his fellow man. He received a commendation for his work in the community from Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark, in May of 2016. He volunteered and worked with the Newark Senior Citizens Committee for several years and promoted and attended their annual Senior Citizens Fashion Show and Extravaganza event held at the Robert Treat Hotel, in Newark. He received an award for his dedication and years of service to the senior community in May of 2024. That was the last time he was involved with the organization as his health began to decline due to early-stage dementia.

Johnnie loved to donate to various charities and military-related organizations such as Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, Special Olympics, Guiding Eyes for the Blind and the American Red Cross.

Johnnie leaves to mourn, his beloved longtime girlfriend, Shirleyan Perkins, children: John Etheridge, Nadine Etheridge, Pamela Fields (Etheridge), Leonard Etheridge, Timothy Etheridge, Andrea Davis, Sharlinda Hugh (Tyree), Asya Harris, Siree Morris (Ayana), Dominique Morris, Kayla Killiebrew a.k.a.”Little Killiebrew”, Michael Morris (predeceased), wife Ella Lee Killiebrew (Sims) (predeceased), 22 grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and a host of longtime friends and associates of whom he always made feel like they were a part of his family.