Jessie Reese Johnson

Published 12:00 am Sunday, January 4, 2009

Jessie Lee Reese Johnson, 93, of Selma, AL died Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at Lighthouse Rehabilitation Center. Services was held 1:30 p.m., Sunday December 28, 2008 at Sandridge Baptist Church with Rev. Willie Johnson officiating; Rev. M.E. Brown, Pas-tor. Burial followed in Sandridge Church Cemetery under the direction of Miller Funeral Service. Repast was held at the Selma Performing Arts Centre.
Mrs. Johnson loved her family, friends, church and community. She was blessed with one daughter, Rosetta. She married the late Mr. Willie Johnson and together they reared ten children.
She had a passion for cooking, fishing, gardening, quilting and raising her chickens. She had a good-humored spirit and mannerism that would leave a lasting impression. Early in life, she was a member of Wesley Chapel C.M.E. Church (Pleasant Hill); but later joined Sandridge Baptist Church after relocation to Selma. Mrs. Johnson worked in various capacities in the church, including Sunday school teacher, sang in choir, choir president, and member of the Young People Home Society. She was an amateur entertainer, and with several female friends performed in a comedy play for community enter-tainment at the East Selma Community Center. She worked with the Boy Scout Troop at Sandridge Baptist Church. She was a founding member of Ward Eight Deputy Council and served as treasurer. Mrs. Johnson leaves many relatives and friends to cherish her memories; five daughters, Rosetta Walker (Julius, Sr.) Lanier, Fannie (Joseph) Brown, Arlean Suttles, of Selma, AL, Adelle Harris, Chicago, IL, Georgia (Cleveland) Chaney, Cleveland, OH; three sons, Ernest (Della) Johnson, Selma, AL, Eddie (Dorothy) Johnson, Sr., Birming-ham, AL, and William (Gloria ) Johnson, Florissant, MO; one sister, Ozzie Bell Reese Butter, Selma, AL; twenty-nine grandchildren; forty-nine great grandchildren; sev-enteen great-great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, including special friends, Mrs. Annie Cooper, Mrs. Ethel Bender, Mrs. Daisy Griffin Harris, Mrs. Willie Ruth Griffin, and Mrs. Virginia Houston; a Godson, Herbert (Four Four) Smith. Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her husband, Willie Johnson; parents, Charlie and Mary Under-wood Reese; one sister, Eliza Reese; three brothers, Percy Reese, Wilbert Reese and Charlie Reese; two children, Ada Bell McGee and Sammie Johnson; two grandchildren, Cathy McGee Johnson and Norma Jean McGee; one great grandson, Ishmiel Courtland; and two son-in-laws, William Harris and Moses Suttles, Sr.
Pallbearers will be Grandsons and nephews. Flower Bearers will be nieces, church members.

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