Mary E Johnson

On the bountiful Clearlake Farm in Blytheville, Arkansas, our Auntie Mary E. Johnson was born to Amos and Hattie Jamison Johnson. From their union, nine children were born: Napoleon Johnson, Delilah Hunt, Verlene Moore, Leola Reed, Roosevelt Johnson, Aaron Johnson, and Clyde Johnson, all of whom have preceded her in death. Her sister, Mrs. Ceola Brown, is the surviving sibling. Having attended the Clearlake school system in Blytheville, AR, she graduated from the Richard B. Harrison High School. Her career of Switchboard Operations started after she received certifications from Davenport College in Grand Rapids, MI. After college, Auntie Mary came to Chicago, Illinois, following her siblings Verlene and Ceola, where she remained until her departure. She attended United Baptist Church, under the leadership of Reverend Daniels, retired, and the Reverend Andre A. Kirkland. She was an active member, serving in the Women’s Department. One of Auntie Mary’s favorite activities was attending Sunday School and studying the Word of God. At home, she enjoyed delving into her studies with The Word Channel, her favorite television station. She had a long and prosperous career as an operator at YMCA, Chicago Police Department, and lastly at Mt. Sinai Hospital, where she worked for 34 years. Auntie Mary had rheumatic fever as a teenager. She had to be carried everywhere because of the fragility of her bones. So her nickname became DEER Mary. It described how small and tender she was, like a newborn fawn. Being a great cook, she was known for her cakes and the recipes she shared. One of her favorite recipes was delicious homemade pound cake. It was often said, "her cooking made people feel good." She also loved doing her gardening. She even kept a gardening diary to track each plant's progress. She took care of and invested in her family all the way to the great and great-great nieces and nephews. One of her highest priorities was to ensure that they each pursued and achieved academic excellence. Our beloved Auntie Mary led a long life and will be missed by her family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. For over a decade, she would walk to work at Mt. Sinai Hospital. It was on one of those walks, October 14, 2021, that God called her home. What we know for sure, is that Fillmore, California, Roosevelt and Mt. Sinai will never be the same. She leaves to cherish her memory: her sister, Mrs. Ceola Brown (Chicago, IL); her many nieces and nephews, Hattie (Kevin) Adjwoa (Chesterfield, OH), Gloria Brown, Rosie Purkett, Antwon Brown, Katherine (Ken) Lenoir, and Carla June Moore of Chicago, IL, Larry Johnson, Amos Reed, Clyde (Gloria) Reed, Barbara Mitchell, Stacey Reed, Bennie Northern, Linda Northern, Dorothy Thomas, and Teresa Northern of Blytheville, AR, and J. Mitchell, Edna Mae Wright, Ann Mitchell, Valerie Mitchell, Rod Mitchell, Kim First, Renee Johnson, Charles Allen, and Joseph (Karen) Hunt of St. Louis, MO; and a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews, friends, and co-workers.

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