Ashlin Albert Johnson (affectionately known as Barris) was born to Kenneth and Esmine Johnson in Claremont, St Ann, Jamaica, West Indies on May 26, 1955.  He died peacefully on September 28, 2020 in West Palm Beach at the residence of his sister, Karen Johnson.

He received his primary education at Claremont Primary School, St Ann and had attended West Indies College in Mandeville, Jamaica for a few months. He was a creative person and displayed a flair for repairing appliances and electrical equipment and remodeling homes.

His mother and some siblings migrated to the United States in the early nineteen seventies, and lived in New York City.   Ashlin traveled with his brother Dave to join the family in 1974. He got a job with Keyfoods Supermarket Chain where he maintained their conveyor belts for about 4 years.

His confidence and skill level had grown and his entrepreneurial spirit led him to start his own business. He ventured into the area of construction and remodeling and even remodeled the family home and designed the basement. Subsequently, he remodeled and created kitchens, bathrooms and basements for many of his siblings including Melanie, Bev, Joy, Len, Dave and Denise. He retained his interest in the maintenance of conveyor belts by undertaking projects for the major airports in New York City.

His generosity caused him to employ many of his friends and relatives. Often, he was more concerned about helping them rather than advancing himself.  In the 1980s and 90s, he expanded his work portfolio and added buying and selling tools and machinery in Jamaica.

Ashlin's health challenges started early at 19 when he became hypertensive. He suffered a mini stroke in 1996 while he was involved in helping one of his sisters to relocate. After that episode, he became a vegan- a lifestyle which he embraced until his death. Friends and family members gave him support with juicing and special meals.

In 2013, he began to experience kidney problems and in 2015, suffered kidney failure and was put on dialysis.  He did not adapt well to the dialysis and his sister Melanie persuaded him to move to Jacksonville, Florida in 2016. Through her efforts, he was able to get a kidney transplant at Mayo Clinic in 2017. His health and independence improved. However, this was interrupted by a stroke in June 2019. Its impact was debilitating since there was a delay in medical response and some brain bleed. For fifteen months, he moved in between long term care at Brooks Rehabilitation Centre, the Mayo Clinic and Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville.

After much discussion among the family and according to his wish, he was moved to West Palm Beach on September 22, 2020 to his sister's residence. He passed away on September 28, surrounded by family members and attentive nurses.

Ashlin was a creative, hard- working, generous, talented and caring human being. He is survived by brothers (Larkland, Michael and Dave) and sisters (Asneth, Vivienne, Melanie, Judith, Karen, Rose, Denise, Winsome and Marjorie); two children – Lashea and Andre; a grandson – Azare, many nieces and nephews, cousins and scores of good friends.

He will be fondly remembered. May he rest in peace.