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Mary Elizabeth Johnson was the daughter of the Late Deacon Charlie & Ethel Johnson. She was born December 7, 1933 in Westmoreland County, VA. Her father affectionately called her “Mazie”. Surrounded by her family, she peacefully transitioned to her eternal home Christmas night, December 25, 2021 at the house of Chris Johnson where she temporarily lived for seven years & is presently the home of her daughter Kathy. Her son “Bird” was her primary caregiver throughout her lengthy illness with her daughters assisting as requested & required by him.
Mary received her education in Westmoreland County, VA & graduated from A.T. Johnson high school June 2, 1952. She received music lessons at a young age & the household was gifted a piano by Maude Ware so that Mary & her sister Lou would have it to play. After graduation, she moved to Baltimore, MD to live with her uncle Wesley Payne & was temporarily a live-in babysitter for Emily Blackwell Barkley. She eventually returned to Lerty, VA.
November 19, 1955, she was united in marriage to James Wilbert Johnson the son of the late Lorenza & Florine Johnson. That union produced one son & four daughters. Residing in Washington, DC., they once lived on the 8th floor of an apartment building on 7th Street, SE & later moved to their permanent home on Lyman Place, NE. She was a loving & devoted wife for 66 years.
Mary joined Shiloh Baptist Church at Lerty, VA October 15, 1944 under the leadership of Pastor George E. Kelsic. At the age of 19, she organized the Royal Gospel Chorus. She was their pianist until her marriage in 1955. Every year she faithfully & eagerly attended the Royal Gospel Chorus anniversary on the first Sunday in May & the church’s fall revival on the first Sunday in September.
In 1981, joining her husband, she began attending Delaware Avenue Baptist Church. She organized & was the pianist for the Willing Workers Chorus. She was also a Deaconess, a member of the Flower & Hospitality Committee & a member of the Mighty Seniors. She loyally attended all church services & special programs until her husband’s health began to fail him.
Mary temporarily returned to Virginia in 1995 to care for her daughter “Flagg” & after “Flagg’s” transition, she remained to care for her grandson Chris. While there, she was the pianist for the C.L. Long Inspirational Choir at Siloam Baptist Church in Zacata, VA; under the leadership of Pastor Clearance L. Long. After returning to Washington, DC, she reorganized the Willing Workers Chorus & resumed being their pianist. Two songs that she played for all of the groups to sing throughout the years were “Search Me, Lord” & “If You Can’t Help Me (At the Finishing Line)”.
Mary worked at Drug Fair, U.S. Postal Service & General Accounting Office. They were all located in Washington, DC. She retired from GAO December 31, 1993 after 25 years of loyal employment. She received numerous letters & awards for outstanding service.
Her hobbies were crocheting & writing as well as doing jigsaw, crossword & word search puzzles. She crocheted several blankets & gave them to anyone who wanted them. Several were gifted by a family friend to seniors in a nursing home & they were all very delighted & grateful to receive them.
Everyone who got to know her consistently used the adjectives sweet, kind, humble & meek to describe her. Many of the younger generation affectionately called her “Mama Mary”. She didn’t have a cross word to say to anyone. No matter how some may have tempted her to do otherwise, she maintained her peaceful spirit.
Mary was predeceased by her husband James “Wubut” Johnson, Sr., her daughter Sandra “Flagg” Johnson, her grandson Calvin “CJ’ Harris, Jr. & her brother George Ellis Johnson. Also predeceasing her were her cousins Avis Maiden & Vernelle Cruse who were like her sisters since childhood.
Left to cherish memories of her are her son, James “Bird” Johnson, Jr., her daughters Shirlene Johnson, Kathy Johnson & Jonelle Johnson-Byrd (Gregory); her grandchildren Tremayne Johnson, Tamara Johnson-Maiden (Dondrae), Chris Johnson, Sr. (Tamara) & Patrice “Prissy” Johnson. She also has her great-grandchildren Antwon Johnson, Cahlil Johnson, Alonneis Maiden, Caileigh Johnson, Chris Johnson, Jr. & Lea’ Johnson. She is survived by her sisters Louise Pearson (Edward) & Lois Johnson and her brothers Charles Johnson, Jr. (Elnora) & William Johnson, Sr. (Marion). She leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives & friends.
Home going service for Mary Johnson will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 12 Noon in the sanctuary of the Shiloh Baptist Church, 1126 Stratford Hall Road, Montross, Virginia.
Interment will follow in the Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery.
Remains may be viewed from 4PM until 6PM on Friday, January 7, 2022 in the chapel of the WELDON-FISHER FUNERAL HOME and from 10AM until service time on Saturday, January 8 at Shiloh Baptist Church.
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