Christopher O. Washington

Christopher Oren Washington was born on January 1, 1977, to Cassandra (Garner) Johnson in Chicago, Illinois. As a young child, Stephen Johnson came into Christopher’s life and raised him as his own. He attended Julian High School, where he excelled as an avid Scholar. Christopher graduated Magna cum laude and was a standout athlete, playing tackle on the high school varsity football team.

After high school, he earned a football scholarship to Texas A&M University. However, due to an injury, he had to leave the program. Determined to continue his education, he attended several universities before ultimately pursuing a career in Surgical Technology. Christopher approached this path with unwavering dedication, graduating Summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. The medical field was his true calling, and working in the operating room brought him immense joy.

In 1998, Christopher became a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He began his pledge process alongside many others, but he crossed solo, earning the line name "D-Unsinkable 1."

Christopher met his wife, Shakita in 2005 and got married October 4th, 2008 and this union brought two beautiful sons, Jett and Jackson into the world. As of last October, Christopher and Shakita made it to 16 years of marriage.

Those who truly knew Christopher understood his deep love for football. His loyalty to the Green Bay Packers was unwavering, and if you were in his circle, you had no choice but to brace yourself for his passionate rants and playful taunts about his beloved team. He also loved debating and joking around with his brothers, Ivan and Stanton.

Christopher also had a passion for music and was a devoted member of the praise and worship team at Canaan Worship Center, under the leadership of Dr. Tony D. Cobbins. He found joy in cooking and grilling, and his love for good food often led him and his wife, Shakita, on adventures to different restaurants in the Kansas City area for their date nights.

Out of all his passions, fatherhood was his greatest joy. One of his most cherished blessings was reconnecting with his oldest son, Jaelin Washington, after 17 years. His younger sons, Jett and Jackson Washington, were his world.

If you truly knew Christopher, you knew one thing for certain—he wanted to be called Christopher, not Chris. He never hesitated to correct anyone on that. He often joked with his wife, making her vow that, when the time came, his obituary had to state a few key facts: yes, he was a big guy, but he could dress, he always smelled and looked good, and he was never late to anything.

Christopher was preceded in death by his father, Stephen Johnson; his grandfather, Reuben Ralph Garner; his grandmother, Mattie Mae Garner; and his cousin, Sir Victor. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Shakita Washington; his beloved sons, Jaelin, Jett, and Jackson Washington; his mother, Cassandra Johnson; his sisters, Reuvean (Tony) Day and Reunise Muhammed; and his brothers, Ivan (Sareth) Washington and Stanton (Stella) Johnson. His Mother-in-love Kay Conner and Father-in-law, Miles Conner “Pops” and He is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family who truly loved him.

Christopher’s legacy of love and laughter will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.