Jaylender Johnson

JOHNSON, Deaconess Jaylender - Age 93, passed away Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at Brian's House. Family hour 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 12, 2011 at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, G-4805 N. Saginaw St., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Dr. Henry L. Fuller, Jr., officiating. Interment River Rest Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Mrs. Johnson will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Wednesday. Deaconess Jaylender Johnson (affectionately known as “Muh”) began her life on July 1, 1918 in Chambers County, Alabama. Jaylender was the daughter of Tom Moses “Frost” and Carrie Jane (Simpson) Brady. She attended school in Chambers County, Alabama for early education, but discontinued her schooling to work in order to help her family. She had 12 siblings. Jaylender married Ernest Johnson in 1940 and to this union six children were born. Mrs. Johnson gave her life to Jesus Christ at an early age. She and her family attended Peace and Goodwill Baptist Church in Roanoke, Alabama. After relocating to Flint in 1953, she and her family united with the Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in 1954 when the church was located at 3019 Industrial Avenue. Mrs. Johnson served as supervisor of the Youth Usher Ministry with all six of her children ushering on the floor. She attended church regularly until her health began to fail. She loved to attend church and often times she would bring her grandchildren with her. Mrs. Johnson had a close relationship with Christ. She loved music, walking, playing the piano, gardening and enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grand and great-grand children. Mrs. Johnson would often prepare Sunday dinner for the entire family, including children, nieces, neighbors or whoever stopped in. She and her husband provided a home for many of their nieces and nephews as they migrated from the south. They all knew they could stay with Uncle Ernest and Aunt Jay until they found jobs and was able to move out on their own. Mrs. Johnson worked as a maid for several families until 1985. She leaves to cherish her memory: 3 sons, Donald (Diane) Johnson, Larry W. Johnson and James D. Johnson; 3 daughters, Ernestine Todd, Christine Johnson, all of Flint and Margie (Johnnie) Reed of Alpharetta, GA; 15 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; sister, Learia Belle Hardy of Philadelphia, PA; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many dear friends, including Jesse and Liz Perry; and special niece, Gurtie Hill of Roanoke, Alabama. Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her husband Deacon Ernest Johnson; parents, Tom Moses and Carrie Jane Brady; brothers, Cleam, John Henry and James “Buck”; sisters, Mattie Ruth, Aldora, Ida, Clelie, MaeRose, Thelma and Annie Lee. The family would like to express special thanks to her caregivers for their daily attention to her needs: her special daughter, Christine, who gave extra special care for many years; the staff at McLaren Regional Medical Center and Brian’s House Hospice facility, Pastor Henry L. Fuller and the Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church family.

Jaylender Johnson

July 1, 1918 - January 4, 2012