Jannie Lee Johnson

JANNIE LEE JOHNSON, daughter of the late Dennis Edwards and was born on April 15, 1912 in Smithfield , Virginia. Mother Jannie was one of 21 children and the sole survivor of her siblings. Her life as a youngster was one of helping her parents work the peanut and cotton fields. Her 4-foot 10 inch frame did not prevent her from shooting her rifle toward off the snakes from one family homestead to another. When her siblings teased her about her small sature, Jannie would chase them with poison ivy which made them fearful of her. At the tender age of 16, Jannie relocated to Baltimore to assist her oldest sister, Blanche King, to raise her children. In Baltimore, she fell in love with and married Master Sergeant John Wesley Johnson. He preceded her in death on February 3, 1979. As a military couple, they traveled and lived in various parts of the United States. Their love for children soon brought into their lives a seven-month old baby girl named Patricia Ann Jackson, who was the love of their life. Jannie was blessed to be an Army wife and would take small babysitting jobs to bring extra gifts to her growing daughter. Mother Johnson accepted Christ at an early age in Smithfield, Virginia. She was a devoted member of the Rose of Sharon Baptist Church in Baltimore under the pastorate of the late Reverend Ella Everette. The children of Rose of Sharon knew how to behave when Mother Johnson was present. Her rolling eyes and clearing of the throat made every child jump and stand at attention. In later years, at the advice of a friend, she and Pat visited Rising Sun First Baptist Church. In January 1998, mother and daughter jointed Rising Sun where she was a committed and devoted servant of the Lord. Jannie was very outspoken and did not fear telling people what they needed to know. Jannie enjoyed fishing, gardening and shooting squirrels in the backyard of Campfield Road “to keep them varmints out of my garden.” She toiled the soil and tilled the earth with munch energy and love, resulting in an abundant crop of collard greens, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, cabbage and lima beans. The crop fed many. Men adored her especially those named “John”. They treated her like a doll baby. Jannie enjoyed all forms of exercising, especially walking the dog, Max. Jannie and max walked daily until declining health prevented the dog and his mistress from continuing their stroll around the neighborhood. When Jannie would go on atrip with the seniors, Max would meet her at the bus stop upon her return. When she went to Keswick Rehabilitation Center, Max was her Wednesday companion. Oxtail soup and crabs were her favorite foods. Her remedy for colds was gin, horehound drops, cod liver oil, rock candy and honey. Games and trips to Atlantic City were among her favorite pastime, along with sewing, exercising and modeling. Jannie had an eye for fashion and loved to adorn her small frame with beautiful hats and shoes. She was no stranger at the events and conventions of the Real Estate Broker of Baltimore. Earlier in life, she was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. More recently she shared happy celebrations with the Creative Dynamic Women (The Birthday Club). At Rising Sun, Mother Johnson was an honorably member of the Courtesy Guild and a member of the Mother’s and Deaconess Board. A special joy came in watching Reverend Engel Dawson Burns grow in the church and became one of our spiritual leaders. Mother Johnson looked forward to receiving communion from Deacon and Deaconess Crawley. Jannie supported Pat in every venture and was proud of her daughter’s accomplishments. She lovingly called her name even when she could not remember any other names. Prior to her health failing, she was a participant in a fashion show at Rising Sun. she wore a glittering, long fitted gown, fancy hat and high heels that brought her small frame to almost 5 feet tall. When asked how she was feeling, she would reply, “I’ doing alright for a young lady. I’m kicking but not too high.” Mother Jannie peacefully departed this early life on Thursday, June 2, 2011 in the tranquility of her home. She leaves to cherish her memory: a devoted daughter, Patricia Jackson Davis; one grandson, Ahmed Jamal Davis, (Kamela); three great-grandchildren Justus, Kendall, and Jackson Davis; and five nieces; Beatrice Wilson (John), Earlean Woods, Arneatha Morgan and Margaret Edwards, two nephews; Robert King, James Robinson (Micki) and an abundance of loving great nieces, great nephews; cousins, god-children, and friends. Hugs to Rudy Ray, Archie Smothers and Sadie Francis who brightened Jennie’s life for over 50 years. She loved her “adopted” son Edwin Abbott Waters, and her “adopted” daughters: Sharon Watts, Rosalind Seth, Karen Taylor, Rheba Lennon, Claudelia Daniel, Saundra Northington Jackson, Karen Miller, Chanda Hamilton, and Carolyn Syphax-Young.

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Jannie Lee Johnson

April 15, 1912 - June 2, 2011