Janie M. Johnson

JANIE M. JOHNSON was born on June 24, 1941 to the late Roosevelt and Esther Johnson in Halifax, North Carolina. Janie departed this life on January 9, 2013. Janie joined the Crowell Church at an early childhood age and loved attending church with her family. She started singing with the choir right away. She sang from the front row of the choir because she was the smallest person. Janie received her childhood education in the Halifax County Public School System. She attended the T.S. Enborden High School and graduated successfully. We were all so proud when Janie told us she was going to attend college. She was the first in our family to even have the nerve to state such a goal. She wanted to become an elementary school teacher. Well, summer passed and fall came. It was an exciting day when our Dad and cousin Bud drove Janie with her suitcase of belongings to Elizabeth City State Teachers College. She didn’t come back until Christmas. She wrote home to tell us that she was studying all the time because she wanted to get good grades. Janie did well and graduated from Elizabeth City in 1964 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Her graduating from college let us all know that it was possible to go away to college. Janie began working as a sixth grade teacher at her old Alma Mater, T.S. Enborden Elementary School. Se veral years later, she relocated to Baltimore and helped the family relocate our aging parents to Maryland. She initially taught pre-school children in The Head Start Program. When this program ended, she decided to teach in the Maryland Public School System. This system was a little too challenging for Janie, because of the many lessons plans, etc. Janie fortunately had the opportunity to get a job as a licensing day care specialist with Carroll County Department of Social Services. This took her out of the classroom and enabled her to become an advocate for the safety of small children while attending daycare programs. She loved and stayed in this career until she retired in 2005. Janie joined Concord Baptist Church in the 1970’s. She loved her church family. She spent her Sundays at our friendly church on the corner. Janie was a dedicated chair member and served on the Social Welfare Ministry, Women’s Ministry and the Housing and Relocation Ministry. She served faithfully until her illness forced her to discontinue all these activities. Janie fought the good fight until the end. She leaves to mourn: her brother, Wilbert Johnson and wife Joan of Yancyville, North Carolina; adopted sister, Carrie Barnes of North Carolina; sisters, Lillie Harrison and husband James of Baltimore, Ruth James Paterson of New Jersey and Mary Warren of Fulton, Maryland; a special nephew, Otis Warren III, who assisted with so many doctor appointments; a host of other nephews, great-nephews, one niece, great-nieces and many cousins; many church friends; and three very special friends, Mrs. Carolyn Bryant, Ms. Shirley Williams and Dr. Catherine Walker, who visited and stayed when necessary.

Tributes

Janie M. Johnson

June 24, 1941 - January 9, 2013