Mary Johnson

Mary Lee Bishop Johnson, 93, died Monday, October 2, 2006 in John Randolph Medical Center. Born in Radford, VA in 1913, five year old Mary Lee moved with her mother Nellie Hancock Bishop and younger siblings Roy and Elizabeth first to Lynchburg and then to Hopewell in 1918 after her father, Arnold Bishop died during the flu epidemic. She attended local elementary schools and Hopewell High School where she was on the basketball team, the debate team, and cheerleading squad. She graduated in 1929, as did her husband of 64 years, the late C.E. â??Kakieâ? Johnson, whom she married later that same year. Never idle in mind or body, at the age of 16, Mary Lee worked summers at the Tubize silk plant. She and â??Kakieâ? worked together to survive the great depression by selling and delivering eggs, honey, and goats milk while he found work wherever he could. At home she canned the bounty from his summer gardens, smoked fish and meat from his hunting and fishing trips, and knitted and hooked rugs. During World War II with the expansion of Fort Lee she and her husband provided housing for the Superintendent of the construction company that was building the barracks there. The Johnsonâ??s also provided room and board for the superintendentâ??s family and several of his co-workers. A woman of great moral strength and character, she was active, especially during her childrenâ??s school years, in her chosen church, The First Christian Church of Hopewell. There she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and played the piano. With her primary focus always on her family, she was an exemplary wife and mother. At age 60, she traveled to Los Angeles where she donated a kidney to her critically ill son, Ben. When her children were older, she became a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron, during 1956 and 1957. She remained a member of the local chapter for the rest of her life. She worked for 20 years as an assistant manager at Kingâ??s Jewelers in Hopewell. In 1965 she was the grand prize winner of a new 1966 Ford Thunderbird in a nationwide Ford contest. She retired at age 62 and became a volunteer teacherâ??s assistant at Woodlawn Elementary School. In the mid 1950s Mary Lee began painting still life, landscape and portrait paintings, and creating sculpture. During her lifetime she completed considerably more than one hundred paintings, some of which were sold to area collectors. Her two sons both became accomplished and recognized artists. She is survived by her daughter, Katherine J. McLean of Lynchburg, VA, her son, Robert A. Johnson of Vienna, VA, 9 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and one great, great grandson. Also surviving are her sister, Elizabeth B. Gleason and her sister-in-law Frances J. Holt, both of Hopewell, two daughters-in-law and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband C. E. â??Kakieâ? Johnson, her son Benjamin B. Johnson, her grandson Lanny McLean, and her brother, Roy Bishop. There will be an Eastern Star Service Sunday, October 8, 2006 at 6:00 PM with the visitation with the family to follow until 8:00 PM in the Hopewell Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held Monday, October 9, 2006 at 11:00 AM in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be in Appomattox Cemetery. Condolences may be registered with www.jtmorriss.com