Mary Lee Johnson

Anita (Lee) Johnson was born December 31, 1941, in Pace, Mississippi. She was the daughter of Janie B. Lee and Robert Gault. Raised primarily by her Grandmother Annie (Bruce) Prowell. Her Great Grandfather Robert Bruce, Great Uncle and Aunt Thomas and Josephine (Bruce) Brough and Great Uncle and Aunt Frank and Samantha Bruce were all very much involved in her upbringing. Nucy, as she was commonly called, moved to Alton, Illinois at the age of three. She was educated in the Alton School District and graduated from Alton Senior High School in 1961. While in high school she was a Harvest Queen candidate, member of the Future Business Leaders of America, Pep Club, Patrol, and the Future Homemakers of America. On June 17, 1961 at Berea Lutheran Church in Alton, Nucy united in Holy Matrimony to Samuel Johnson of Edwardsville, Illinois. She remained a devoted wife for 45 years until the passing of her husband on June 6, 2006. This union was blessed with three children: Brian Leon, Rhonda Rochelle, and Tamara Denise. Nucy professed a belief in Jesus Christ and accepted Him as her personal Lord and Savior. She was a faithful and committed member of both Berea Lutheran and Trinity Lutheran churches before both churches closed. She would often joke that she did not want to join another church only to see it close. While raising her young family, Nucy was briefly employed at Owens-Illinois Glass Company. At the urging of Dr. Mack I. Davis of the local Alton NAACP chapter, Nucy applied for employment and was hired at the former Union Electric Company on Broadway in Alton, Illinois where she would go on to spend nearly 40 years as a customer service representative. As a dedicated employee, Nucy would often get called out late at night during a snow or ice storm to answer incoming customer calls and to direct linemen to power outage areas. Between raising her family and working, Nucy found time to work within local organizations for the betterment of her community. Beginning with the Middletown Neighborhood Center where she was a board member in her beloved "Mexico" neighborhood and later becoming a Girl Scout Leader at the same Center. She was a very concerned parent of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at Humboldt-Lovejoy elementary schools. She was also a charter member of the Alton Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), where she was a Lifetime Member. As a very active member of NCNW, Nucy served as the treasurer for 25+ years, and chair/co-chair of the Debutante Cotillion. She was the recipient of the NCNW's 1995 President's Award and the 1996 Unsung Heroine Award. During the Black Love Potluck and the celebration of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Legacy, she portrayed Dr. Dorothy Height (iconic NCNW National Director). Nucy's deep concern for others led her to be NCNW's team leader for feeding the Alton homeless. She often participated in Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army during Christmas holidays as well as working at the Christmas Wonderland in Rock Springs Park. During election years, Nucy drove members of her community to register to vote and to the polls. Being the fashionable social butterfly that she was, she was also a member of a book club, cookie club and the Red Hat Society (Red Hatters). Early Thanksgiving morning, November 25, 2021, Mama received her "angel wings" with her family by her side at the home she and daddy literally and physically built together. Mama's life was filled with joy and happiness she gave and received from her family and friends. Mama truly enjoyed attending family reunions, concerts, banquets, plays, and Pokeno nights at Mama Annie's and introducing her children and grandchildren to such. Mama's love for family and friends were passed down to her son Brian, her thoughtfulness in gift giving was passed down to her oldest daughter Rhonda and her love and we do mean love for shopping was passed down to her youngest daughter Tammy. Mama was preceded in death by her loving husband, Samuel Johnson; mother, Janie B. Lee; great grandfather, Robert Bruce; grandmother, Annie (Bruce) Prowell; great uncles and aunts, Thomas and Josephine (Bruce) Brough and Frank and Samantha Bruce; uncle, Jacob McGowan, Sr.; and cousins, Jacob "Butch" McGowan, Jr., and Robert McGowan. Mama's most precious memories will be cherished by her children: Brian Leon Johnson of Spanish Lake, Missouri; Rhonda Rochelle (Francis) Roberts of Smyrna, Delaware, and Tamara Denise (Patrick) Morehouse of Florissant, Missouri; grandsons, Wiley V. Taylor, Jr. of Crofton, Maryland, Christopher Brian Johnson of St. Louis, Missouri, and Patrick Louis Morehouse II of East Moline, Illinois; granddaughter, Sydney Patrice Morehouse of Florissant, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Essie Ray Wilson and Jessie Johnson both of Edwardsville, Illinois; and a host of relatives and friends. Also cherishing her memories are special friends Leona Watts, Shirley Turner, Willa Bennett, Josephine Walker, Olive Walker, Peggy Walker, and Janet Westfall.

Mary Lee Johnson

December 31, 1941 - November 27, 2021