About
Notable figure and author best known for being the wife of American crime boss Ellsworth Raymond "Bumpy" Johnson from 1948 until his death in 1968. In 2008, she authored a memoir called Harlem Godfather: The Rap on My Husband, Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson. The book was published when she was 93 years old, just one year before her passing.
Before Fame
Before meeting Johnson, she worked as a waitress in a nightclub that was owned by revered jazz singer and actress Ethel Waters. She went on to meet her future husband, Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, in April 1948.
Trivia
Her 2008 memoir, Harlem Godfather: The Rap on My Husband, went on to advise the depiction and portrayal of Johnson in notable films such as American Gangster and the MGM+ drama series Godfather of Harlem.
Family Life
She married Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson in October 1948, just six months after having met him. Together, they shared one daughter named Ruthie Johnson. She was also stepmother to his daughter from a previous relationship, Elease Johnson.
Associated With
On the MGM+ drama series Godfather of Harlem, she is portrayed by actress and philanthropist Ilfenesh Hadera, while her former husband "Bumpy" Johnson is played by Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker.
