Jeremiah Johnson, 38, of Vian has deep roots in Sequoyah County.
Named after his late grandfather, Bennie Johnson, of the Johnsonville/ Blackgum community near Lake Tenkiller, his birth name is actually “Benjamin Jeremiah” but he said he has always gone by “Jeremiah.”
“Of course, I still get the occasional person who wants to sing ‘Jeremiah was a bullfrog’ to me and I do have a frog tattoo, but I still smile when they do it,” he said.
After growing up with three brothers, Johnson is now raising a daughter, Avril, who is 9.
“I am the second oldest and we are your typical boys, wrestling and kidding each other, no matter how old we get,” he said.
Johnson said he previously worked as a fiber optic coordinator, where he helped prepare and inform residential customers about crew members coming through installing the fiber optics.
“I enjoyed visiting with the customers but I was tired of making money for other people and decided I wanted to do something occupational wise for myself,” he said. “That way I could control my work hours and have more time to spend with my daughter.”
Johnson said after talking to barbers in the area, he decided he wanted to become a barber and enrolled in an Arkansas barber school.
“It usually takes about 10 months to obtain your barber license but I took my time, and it took me 15 months instead of 10,” he said. “I took my state test on Oct. 9 and passed it. I was so excited and now I’m just waiting to transfer my license from Arkansas to Oklahoma, so I can get a job here close to home.”
Johnson said he enjoys cutting hair for veterans, the disabled, and those who might not be able to get out on their own to get a haircut.
“I recently volunteered at a veteran’s home and I really enjoyed it,” he said. “Some of them are disabled and it really made them feel good, which also made me feel good.”
Johnson said he also goes to a Vian man’s house and cuts his hair because the man is homebound, and the two have become close friends.
“A few days ago he fell and couldn’t get in touch with any of his family members, so he called me for help,” he said. “I wasn’t within distance to help him, so I called my dad and he and a family member went over and helped him out of the floor. Thankfully, he wasn’t injured.”
When not working, Johnson said he and Avril enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and camping; and spending time with his girlfriend, Martina, and her two boys.
“We also like to go bowling occasionally, and she is also learning to ride her bike,” he said. “Again, it’s anything that keeps us moving outdoors.”
