Mrs. Mary Leola Johnson, 88, a longtime resident of Fernandina Beach, passed away on Saturday morning, Nov. 12, 2016, at the home of her daughter in Axson, Ga.
Born in Lake Butler, she was the daughter of the late William Leslie and Ethel Theo Duren Williams. She grew up on the family farm in Lake City and attended Mason High School in Lake City. She left Lake City and moved to Jacksonville, where she met her future husband, Alton Monroe Johnson. They were married on Oct. 9, 1944, and made their first home on the Westside of Jacksonville. In 1952, they relocated to Fernandina Beach, where her husband worked for ITT Rayonier. Mrs. Johnson began working for Terminal Bag in Yulee in 1956 and remained until retiring as a machine operator in 1972.
She enjoyed being a homemaker, cooking, shopping and being independent.
She had been a longtime member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Alton Monroe Johnson, who passed away in 1997; a son, Alton David Johnson, who passed away in 1992; and brothers and sisters, Sevena Wilkerson, Lena Crawford, Myrtice Swilley, Jim Williams, Nita Williams, Lester Irene Luke, Ruby Cersey, Arthur Williams, Marietta Williams and Charles Brannen.
Mrs. Johnson leaves behind her two daughters, Jo Ann Johnson Park and her husband, Lamar, of Axson, and Deborah Johnson Rich and her husband, Clint, of Fernandina Beach; a brother, Buck Williams of Lake City; two sisters, Reba Carter of Fort White and Loretta Hubert of Branford, Fla.; grandchildren, Vennis Holt “Doodle” Pipkin, Theresa Lynn “Teri” Bradley, Robert David Johnson, Cherry Ann Wood, Clinton Ryan Rich, Lindsay Brooke Rich and Brantley Corinne Jaramillo; great-grandchildren, Kyle, Hannah and Holt Pipkin, Dalton and Dawson Bradley, Brandon and Christian Johnson, Ashley and Stevie Wood, Brookland and Bryce Hall, Max and Parker Kate Pisani, Joaquin Jaramillo, Penelope Jaramillo and Wyatt Rich; one great-great-grandson, Landon Johnson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at noon Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with President Tony LiCausi presiding and Elders Ron Miller and Lamar Park conducting.
Mrs. Johnson will be laid to rest beside her husband in Bosque Bello Cemetery.
Her family will receive friends at the church from 11 a.m. Wednesday until the hour of service.
Please share her Life Legacy and leave your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors