Ralph Bunche Johnson Gordon was born May 31, 1955 in Ocilla, GA to Sarah Bell Johnson and Moses Golden Johnson. His young years were spent in Willacoochee, GA and Miami, FL, where he began his education at Holmes Elementary School. During his years in Miami, his parents divorced and his mother moved to Washington, DC after marrying Samuel Gordon, who later adopted Ralph. Ralph continued his education in Washington, DC, learning to play the violin and graduating from Calvin Coolidge High School in 1973. The following year, Ralph began his studies at the University of Maryland majoring in Business Administration.
Ralph is loved, remembered and survived by his sister, Alma Joyce Rodgers; brothers Johnnie Calhoun, Curtis Calhoun, and Carver Johnson; sisters-in-law Algernon Johnson and Etta Calhoun; nieces Twyla Vann, Jennifer Paulk, Janet Calhoun, Renee Calhoun, Annette Rodgers, Serena Rodgers, Christina Belle, and Nadia Johnson; nephews Keith Wright, Charles Gregory Rodoson, Jerome Calhoun, Johnnie Calhoun, Jr., Willie Rodgers, Mark Rodgers, Paul Rodgers, Nathan Rodgers, Okorie Johnson, and Eric Garrett.