Bertha Lee Johnson, 86 of Holly Grove, died Tuesday, December 13 at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock.
“Pastor Johnson” or “Mother Johnson” as Bertha was lovingly called, was born January 29, 1930 to Robert Wilson and Lillie Martin-Wilson.
Bertha Lee was the founder and presiding Pastor of Holy Tabernacle Church in Holly Grove in 2000. She was formerly a member and Assistant Pastor of First Pentecostal Temple of Deliverance in Holly Grove for more than 30 years. She served as the first female Pastor of a church in Holly Grove, Arkansas.
Bertha Lee was a homemaker. She was a devoted Pastor, wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She had a love for hats and was a well-dressed lady. She was a beautiful woman with an infectious smile. She was a mother to many whom she did not give birth too.
She was a former member of the Save Our Community organization founded as a non-profit in Holly Grove.
Bertha Lee’s next favorite thing beside her family was serving God. She also enjoyed sewing, fishing, quilting, street ministry, shopping. She loved teaching and instilling the word of God to anyone seeking his favor.
Those preceding Bertha Lee in death are her parents, Lillie and Robert Wilson, two daughters Lorene Earl and Ruby Johnson; one grandchild, Corey Johnson, one great-grand child Daniel Cartwright; six sisters Earnese Brown, Earl Lee Bennett, Eugene Coakes, Etherine Barnes, Captolia Johnson and Blossie Mae Bennett; three brothers, Samuel Wilson, Clemmie Lee Wilson, and Abraham Wilson; and one son-in-law Robert Earl.
Survivors are her husband of 68 years, Irunoes Johnson, Sr., of Holly Grove, AR; thirteen children, Ressie Thibodeaux (Lee) of Akron, OH, Larry (Jeraldine) Johnson of St. Louis, MO, Sandra King of Roe, AR, Mary Ann (Donald) Johnson-Foster of Stuttgart, AR, Virlene (Curtis) Moore of Chicago, IL, Rickey T. Johnson of Holly Grove, AR, Barbara (Herbert) Casey of Little Rock, AR, Lindora (Morris) Dixson of Mansfield, TX, Doris (Dahron) Austin, Debra (Lonnie) Burton, and Riconda (Ricky) Johnson Jr. all of Stuttgart, AR, Robert T. Johnson of Benton, AR, Irunoes Johnson Jr. of Pine Bluff, AR; thirty –five grandchildren, forty-five great grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren; host of in-laws, Austin (Myrtle) Johnson Jr, Levi (Ann) Johnson Sr., Eugene (Vicki) Johnson, Robert Lee Johnson, Arline Wilson, Iona Johnson, Mattie Dee Flowers, Mary Alice Billings, Lillie Bertha (Robert) Winters; one God-son Jimmy (Mary) Palmer of Holly Grove, AR; one spiritual God-son, Victor (Anita) Johnson of Stuttgart, AR, and a host nieces, nephews, cousins & friends.
Visitation:
Friday, December 16
5 until 7 PM
Holy Tabernacle Church
484 Branch Road
Holly Grove, Arkansas
Funeal Services
Saturday, December 17, 2016
11:00 AM
Victor's Empowerment Center
802 North College Street
Stuttgart, Arkansas
Reverend David Wilson- Officiating
Internment:
Blackton Cemetery
Blackton, Arkansas
