What happened to Bumpy Johnson's daughters? The tragic end of Ruthie and Elease

What happened to Bumpy Johnson's daughters? The tragic end of Ruthie and Elease

Bumpy Johnson's daughters, Ruthie and Elease Johnson, died in 2006. They are frequently the subject of interest, given their father's notoriety as a Harlem crime lord. While their lives were influenced by their association with Bumpy Johnson, specific details regarding their personal lives and eventual deaths remain a mystery.

Bumpy Johnson(L) poses for a photo. Bumpy Johnson (R) poses for a portrait
Bumpy Johnson(L) poses for a photo. Bumpy Johnson (R) poses for a portrait against a white background. Photo: @AlcatrazIslandHistory on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Ruthie Johnson is Bumpy Johnson's daughter from a past relationship.
  • Elease Johnson was Mayme Hatcher and Bumpy Johnson's daughter, born outside their marriage.
  • Elease had a daughter named Margaret Johnson, and Bumpy and his wife Mayme raised her as their own.

Bumpy Johnson's profile summary

Full nameEllsworth Raymond "Bumpy" Johnson
GenderMale
Date of birth31 October 1905
Date of death7 July 1968
Age at the time of death62 years old
Zodiac signScorpio
Place of birthCharleston, South Carolina, United States
Place of deathHarlem, New York, United States
Place of burialWoodlawn Cemetery, New York, United States
NationalityAmerican
EthnicityAfrican-American
ReligionChristianity
SexualityStraight
Height in feet5′7″
Height in centimetres170
Weight in pounds160
Weight in kilograms72
Hair colourBlack
Eye colourDark brown
Marital statusMarried
WifeMayme Hatcher
ChildrenRuthie, Elease Johnson
FatherWilliam Johnson
MotherMargaret Moultrie
SiblingsWillie, Mabel
ProfessionCrime boss, drug trafficker
Net worth$100 million
ConvictionDrug Conspiracy (1952)
Criminal penalty15 years' imprisonment

Read also

Who is Jamie Lissow's wife? All about the comic actor relationships and dating history

What happened to Bumpy Johnson's daughters?

Bumpy Johnson's daughters, Ruthie and Elease, died in 2006. Elease reportedly died of a substance-related heart attack, while Ruthie's cause of death is unknown.

Ruthie Johnson

Ruthie was one of Bumpy Johnson's daughters from his past relationship. She died in 2006, but details regarding her life remain scarce.

Bumpy Johnson (L) and Al Molyneaux (R) in downtown NYC
Bumpy Johnson (L) and Al Molyneaux (R) in downtown NYC after Courtney Bruch in Harlem. Photo: @BumpyJohnsonfamily on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Elease Johnson

Elease was the daughter of Mayme Hatcher and Bumpy Johnson, an American crime boss. She was born out of a relationship outside their marriage. Elease's life was heavily influenced by her father's illegal activities while she was growing up in Harlem.

The series Godfather of Harlem (2019) depicts a fictionalised version of Elease's life, portraying her as a substance addict and emphasising the difficulties she endured as a result of her father's legacy.

Elease had a daughter named Margaret Johnson. She was unable to provide care for Margaret because of her addiction, so Bumpy and Mayme raised her.

Read also

Inside Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell's enduring love story through the years

Margaret Johnson (L) and Mayme Johnson (R)
Margaret Johnson (L) and Mayme Johnson (R) at home in the Lenox Terrace, 1967. Photo: @BumpyJohnsonfamily on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Bumpy Johnson's daughter, Elease Johnson, passed away in 2006, the same year as her half-sister Ruthie. While no formal death record is published, several sources claim that it was a heart attack due to OD.

FAQs

  1. Who is Bumpy Johnson, the Godfather of Harlem? Ellsworth Raymond "Bumpy" Johnson was an American real-life crime boss who operated mostly in the Harlem neighbourhood.
  2. How many biological kids did Bumpy Johnson have? He had two biological daughters: Ruthie Johnson and Elease Johnson.
  3. What is Ruthie and Elease Johnson's cause of death? Ruthie's cause of death is unknown, while Elease is believed to have died from a substance-related heart attack.
  4. What happened to Bumpy Johnson in real life? The American crime boss died of a heart attack on 7 July 1968 at the age of 62.
  5. Who is Margaret Johnson to Bumpy Johnson? Margaret Johnson was Bumpy Johnson's granddaughter.
  6. Who is Bumpy Johnson's wife in The Godfather of Harlem? In the series, Bumpy Johnson's wife is named Mayme Johnson. She is played by American actress Ilfenesh Hadera.
  7. How long was Bumpy Johnson in Alcatraz? Johnson was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 1952. He served most of that term at Alcatraz until he was released on parole in 1963.
  8. How did Bumpy Johnson's wife die? According to the Inquirer, his wife, Mayme Hatcher Johnson, died from heart failure on 1 May 2009, at the age of 94.
  9. What are Bumpy Johnson's family tragedies? Some of the most significant catastrophes include the death of Bumpy Johnson in 1968 and the deaths of both daughters in 2006.

Read also

Meet Martin Lawrence's kids from his marriages & a look at his family life

Bumpy Johnson's daughters, Ruthie and Elease, maintained mostly quiet lives despite their father's infamous status as the Godfather of Harlem. What is often reported is that both daughters died in the same year, 2006. While fictionalised tales have provided speculative accounts of Elease's life, concrete information about the circumstances of their deaths is scarce.

Yen.com.gh published an article featuring Rick Ross' kids. Rick Ross is most recognised for his deep, powerful voice and number-one hits. The rapper has had a great career, earning numerous Grammy nominations and platinum albums.

Rick Ross has five kids: three sons and two daughters. However, there are reports that he fathered another child, a daughter born in the latter part of 2023. Read the article to learn more.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Tatiana Thiga avatar

Tatiana Thiga (Lifestyle writer) Tatiana Thiga is a content creator who joined Yen in 2022. She is an English literature graduate from Kenyatta University. She has amassed sufficient knowledge working on a variety of topics, including biographies, fashion and lifestyles, guides, and more. In 2023, Tatiana finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her at tatianathiga@gmail.com

Page was generated in 2.3029229640961