Obituary of Mary Louise Johnson

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Mother Mary Louise Johnson, affectionately known as “Ma Dear” or “Ma”, was born in Dawson, Georgia on February 4, 1938. She was educated at George Washington Carver High School. Mother Johnson moved to Rochester, N.Y. with her late husband Clarence A. Johnson and her two children in 1966. She retired from Duffy-Mott after working there for many years. Mother Johnson enjoyed living in Rochester with her family, but still visited her twin sister, her aunt, and other family members almost every year before she became ill.

Mother Johnson was a member of Holy City Church of God In Christ under the leadership of Elder Gary and then Pastor Glenn Alexander. She enjoyed serving in the church in many capacities.  But her true love was serving as an usher where she stood for over 50 years! During the pandemic in 2019, she became a member of New Visions Community Church of God In Christ under the leadership of Elder Leon Dupree, where she remained until her passing.

Mother Johnson had a huge personality! She enjoyed laughing and talking with her children, sisters, church members and neighbors. She lived in the Hudson Ridge Tower for 28 years. She served on the RHA “Tower Power” committee where her responsibility was to check on each neighbor for safety purposes. She was extremely proud of this position as she connected with her neighbors.

Mother Johnson loved to cook, especially for her family. She would often invite them to dinner and tell them to eat all they want. She would even box them large plates of food to take home.  There were not many dishes she didn’t know how to cook. She was known for her famous “chicken dressing.”

Mother Johnson is predeceased by her husband Clarence A. Johnson; her father Daniel Hagan; and her mother, Maribel Buford Lewis. She is survived by her daughter, Betty J. Knight (Al); son, Harold Johnson, Jr.; two sisters, Carrie L. Buford (Sacramento, California) and Martha Walker (Robert) (Cuthbert, Georgia); five grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a host of other family and friends.      

We loved her! But God loves her best. Take your crown Ma’ Dear, Ma, Sister, Auntie, Grandmother, Friend, and Neighbor.