Angela B. Sawyer

Angela B. Johnson Sawyer, daughter of the late Alexander “Johnny” Johnson and Pearl Doris Segal Johnson, was born in Baltimore, Maryland on October 14, 1943. She made heaven residence on June 23, 2002. She was a graduate of Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School and achieved honors in the college preparatory academic program. She was an athlete, participating in badminton, volleyball and basketball. She attended the Maryland General Hospital School of Nursing, and there received high honors in Geriatric Care. Angela was an avid reader of all types of books, including novels, religious, biographies, nonfiction and medical books. In a single day, she would read two or three novels cover-to-cover. She shared her passion for reading with her husband and children. On October 28, 1965, Angela married Samuel Robert Sawyer, and from their union they had three sons and one daughter-Kevin, Tushina, Tunji and Barry. She was also a loving sister to Priscilla (deceased) and Denise Jennings. As a child, she was member of Wayland Baptist Church, under the shepherding of the late Rev. William Payne. Upon her marriage to Robert Sawyer, she transferred her membership to Sweet Prospect Baptist Church in Baltimore, under the leadership of the late Rev. Calvin C. English, Sr. At Sweet prospect, Angela was a member of several ministries. She served as a missionary, church clerk, church secretary, and secretary of the Union Missionary Baptist Organization under the leadership of Reverend Monroe Simms, First Baptist Church in Elkridge, Maryland. During the 1960’s until the early 1970’s, Angela influenced the minds of young children as a schoolteacher. Many of her former students still referred to her lovingly as “Mrs. Angie.” Angela was a longtime employee at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Towson, Maryland, where she worked in the Patient Transportation department. With her warm spirit and humor, she was a bright spot in the department, and often filled many roles, including encourager and friend. These two things characterized Angela’s role not only in her work life, but also in her life in general. Angela was also a passionate historian. She was a member of the Fairfield County, South Carolina Historical Society and a member of the Historical Society of South Carolina University. Along with her husband and mother-in-law, Frances English-Sawyer, she co-authored the English-Hughes-Sawyer-Brown-Davis and Related Families Journal (2000), which unearthed more than 5,000 family members both past and present. She was also a businesswoman, having co-managed the recording group, Tomorrow’s Promise, and co-owned Mother Lode’s Supper Club. Still, More than anything, Angela valued family, unity and, most importantly, her salvation. She loved the Lord with all her heart. She had a passion for the Lord that unquenchable, and one that was demonstrated in every aspect of her life. Given this, Angela would ask that you remember this time, not as a time of sadness, but a time of celebration – a time of victory.She leaves to celebrate her new life with God: her husband, Samuel Robert; sons, Kevin, Tunji, Barry; daughter, Evangelist Tushina; sister, Denise Jennings; mother, Pearl Johnson; father-in-law, Samuel B. Sawyer; granddaughters, Kiersten, Ashley, Blair; daughter-in-law, Towanda Jackson-Parson; goddaughter, Tiffany Strong; special daughter, Patrice Oliver; brothers and sisters-in-law, Thomas and Juanita Watkins; James and Sharon Sawyer; Howard and Penny Ruffin; Arletta and Bobby Holley; George and Shirley Sawyer; Willie and Maggie Duncan; Vivian Sawyer; and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and co-workers.

Tributes

Angela B. Sawyer

October 14, 1943 - June 23, 2002