On December 28, 1968, God allowed the sun to rise on our beloved Johneil Arrington, and sadly on Friday night, May 23, 2025, God allowed the sun to set peacefully upon Johneil.

Johneil Arrington was born on December 28, 1968 to Lillie Faye Arrington and the late James Earl Crowell. Johneil was preceded in death by his twin brother, Doneil Arrington, who was just called home three short months ago.

Johneil became a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia at a young age.  He was educated in the Richmond Public Schools system and graduated in 1987 from Huguenot High School.  He went on to further his education and attended Longwood College (now known as Longwood University), where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry with a Minor Degree in Biology in 1992.

While at Longwood, in the fall of 1991, he pledged and was a faithful member of his beloved Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated (Zi Zeta Chapter). Johneil participated in many activities while at Longwood and was a member of several organizations. He was elected and served on the Judicial Board; Brothers and Sisters in Christ choir better known as BASIC; Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity which was a community service fraternity; served as Vice President of Association of Black Students. He was on the first Black Advisory Board and was a founding member for this board in 1989.  He was a counselor for STP (Summer Transitional Program) for incoming freshmen.  Johneil was a founding member of the Rholota Lambda Graduate Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha located in Chesterfield County, VA. He was also an advisor for Virginia Commonwealth University undergraduate Alpha Phi Alpha chapter. Johneil was an Alpha Phi Alpha (ÁÖÁ) man through and through.

Upon graduating from college, Johneil utilized his degree and worked various jobs. His first job after college was at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital in Richmond, Virginia where he worked as a Laboratory Technician.  His duties were to centrifuge and perform start procedures on human samples for test analysis and report data to physicians. After working there for a few years, he relocated to Lorton, Virginia and worked for Genetics and IVF Institute in Fairfax, VA as a Laboratory Technician analyzing CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) samples for criminal databases and analyzing paternity samples to establish parentage.  While working there for a few years, he was offered a fantastic job opportunity to relocate to North Atlanta, Georgia. Johneil accepted the job offer and relocated to Duluth, Georgia working for Saint Joseph Research Institute as a Data Analyst.  His job duties for this job were cell extraction and data analysis of research performed to assist in developing cures and treatments for diseases.  He loved doing this type of work and did so until he could no longer work due to his health. Johneil moved back to his hometown of Richmond, Virginia to be with and have the support of his family and friends.  Of course he worked for Alpha Phi Alpha from 1991 until his passing.

Johneil was big on family and was loyal to his family and friends. He loved and was loved dearly by his Longwood classmates as well as friends he made after his college days and during his travels and moving around, and some of these loving relationships has lasted for nearly 40 years. Johneil possessed a unique spirit that made others just befriend and love him.  He loved to entertain and was always opening his home to family and friends to fellowship and partake of his delicious home cooked meals. It didn't have to be a holiday or any special occasion for him to invite you over for a meal and fellowship. He had no special dishes, everything he cooked was tasty and delicious. You named it or asked for it, he cooked it. Three dishes that were requested often of him though was his spaghetti, corn pudding, and chicken salad. Having and participating in family cookouts and functions was another thing Johneil loved.  He never let his disability stop him from being the kitchen chef or catering a cookout for his family, friends, or fraternity.

Johneil loved to decorate, and help others decorate their homes.   During the Christmas season, his Christmas trees (sometimes 2 to 3 trees) and holiday décor were the best. Each year there was a new Christmas theme and different color scheme.

Johneil had some disabilities later in life, but he did not let them stop him. He still did whatever he wanted to do. He loved to travel. He went to the Million Man March in Washington D.C.  He went on many cruises with his family and friends.  One of his favorite places to visit was Las Vegas. He would take his mother on most of his trips.  His friends and family also joined him on a few.  One of his last big trips was to Las Vegas with his mom, his friend Donnie and her mom and Shawn and his wife Lisa.  He had other trips planned but as we know our plans are not God's plans and God's plan was to have Johneil take the best trip of all, going home to Heaven.

Johneil lived his life to the fullest and he did what he said he was going to do.  If you asked any of his family members or friends about his attitude towards life, they would say Johneil did it all and didn't let anything or anybody stop him from enjoying life.  Even when he pledged, they didn't think he could step because of his size, but Johneil surprised them all and did his thing.  He would always say "I'm Johneil Arrington and I can do it".

Johneil loved sports. His favorite football team was the Dallas Cowboys.  He also loved watching tennis, and he got to meet and talk to one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Arthur Ashe.  During this meeting, Athur Ashe wrote Johneil a special encouraging message on an autograph picture which still hangs on Johneil's wall.

Johneil leaves to cherish his memories: his loving and devoted mother Lillie Arrington; sister, Gwendolyn Burke and brother-in-law Kevin Burke; sister, Toyna Hunt; nieces, Aeisha Jones (Les), Charlissia Burke and Briana Burke; nephews, Kevin Burke Jr, Evan Pierre Hunt, and Alan (AJ) Dennis; 5 great nieces; 3 great nephews; aunts, Joyce Arrington and Dorothy Crowell; God sons, Anthony Walters, Toriano Parrish; and a host of cousins and other loving and faithful relatives and friends. Just to name a few; Shawn Washington, Donnie Hampton, Jean Pittman, Darrell Richards, and Charleen Walters and cousin Jackie Gordon.

Johneil was affectionately called the rubber band man by his sister Gwen because he always bounced back from all his adversities and Baby Bear by his mother Lillie Arrington. He was also called JA, Johnny, Mr. Arrington, Egoiste (his line name), and Professor.

Johneil will truly be missed but the blessing is we will see him again.