Willie Mae Johnson

WILLIE MAE JOHNSON was born September 30, 1942 in Baltimore, MD, the fifth of eight children born with her twin sister, Ida Mae, to the late Willie and Ida Gilyard. She departed this life on March 16, 2019. Affectionately known as “Williemae or Mae”, she attended Fairmount Hill High School in Baltimore City. She later married the late David Johnson, Sr. who preceded her In death in 2006. Williemae worked for the State of Maryland for more than 15 years at the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, Child Protective Services Division where she retired as a Social Worker Assistant. As an Assistant, she helped to protect vulnerable children from abuse and neglect. She also worked as a Home Health Aide, helping others to recover from their illness and ensuring that they were clean, comfortable and fed. Prior to working at the Department of Social Services, Williemae spent many years working as a Head Cashier at Brown’s and Big B’s supermarket. Because of her compassion for people, she often helped to take care of the sick and shut-in as a private duty nursing assistant. A devoted mother, sister and aunt, Williemae enjoyed spending precious moments with her family. She always looked up to her big sister, Nadell, whom she affectionately called “Sister” and was a great friend to her twin, Ida Mae and her sister, Klara. Williemae enjoyed family gatherings, putting together and planning weddings, cookouts and family trips and she always made sure that good food was available. She also loved Interior Decorating. You never knew what changes she was going to make to her home, always rearranging furniture and looking for new projects to pursue, and when she visited your home, you could always rely on her decorating advice whether it was hanging fresh curtains and draperies, providing color coordination ideas or arranging furniture; she would make sure that your home was well designed, too. Williemae loved to laugh and have fun especially with her twin sister Ida Mae whom she shared a close and special bond and connection with, fussing at her one minute and loving on her the next. It is a bond that will never be broken. It is that “Twin Sister Love”-- a love that will last forever. She loved her children, Wendy and Reggie, and always wanted the best for them. She would do anything for them to ensure their happiness. She also had a son David, affectionately known as “Davie” who preceded her in death in 1982. Williemae loved God and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She attended Faith Assembly of Christ Church Baltimore, (Pastor-Elder Courtney Spence). Williemae had four brothers who preceded her in death, John Henry Alston, Wardell Gilyard, James Gilyard and Clarence Gilyard. She leaves to cherish her memory; two children, Wendy Johnson Locke and Reginald A. Franklin Jr; three sisters, Nadell Gilyard, Ida Mae Hines and Klara Gilyard; two sisters-in-law, Portia A Gilyard and Johnnie Lee Alston; five grandchildren, Shon, Travis, Cameron, Reginae and Karson; four great-children, Isaiah, Kamya, Kaliya and Elija. She also leaves to mourn a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives along with her devoted girlfriends, Amanda, Linda, Margaret, Agnes (preceded her in death) and Inell. Williemae also had wonderful coworkers Michelle, Dewana and Sidney who also became personal friends.

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Willie Mae Johnson

September 30, 1942 - March 16, 2019