Bessye Banks Johnson (nee Waller) was born on October 15, 1919 in Eatonton, GA. She was one of five children that blessed the union of Nelson Banks "Daddy Banks" and Alice Lavonia "Big Mama" Harris Waller. She departed this earthly life for her heavenly home on Sunday, March 30, 2008 at Good Samaritan Hospital. She was educated in the public school system, attended Stowe School where she was valedictorian of her class and she graduated from Woodward High School. Bessye confessed her faith in Christ and was a member of Union Baptist Church. Later in life she joined Quinn Chapel AME Church. She worked as a seamstress for fine end department stores and with several government agencies, VA, US Department of Agriculture, Wright Patterson AFB and the EEOC where she retired. Bessye was a member of the Les Coudre de Ray Sewing Club, a talent she taught her daughter and granddaughter, enjoyed traveling, playing bridge, doing ceramics, shopping, especially estate sales and swimming. Bessye was united in holy matrimony to Wiley "Abe" Johnson. This union was blessed with two daughters, Elsie and Janice. Her parents, Banks and Alice; siblings, Mattie Walker, Elizabeth Head, John and Ernest Waller; nieces, Shirley Green and Alice Waller; nephews, Terry and Michael Walker; granddaughter-in-law, Michelle Croley and her special friend, Bill Barwick preceded her in death. Bessye leaves not to mourn her passing but to cherish years of loving and precious memories to: two daughters, Elsie Croley and Janice Shavers (Richard) Calloway; eight grandchildren, Kenneth (Belinda) Johnson, Lisa Johnson, Harold Croley, Daryl Croley, James (Tanjua) Shavers, III, Constance (Paul) Brown, Christopher (Angela) Croley and Jessica "JJ" Croley; 22 great grandchildren, Danielle, Michelle, Christina, Kenneth II, Kendra, Quiana (Kenyon), Harold II, Ashley, Lenora, Blake, Daryl II, Ebony (Michael), James IV, Seth, Blythe, Kerithe, Jasmine (Bryant), Kyrie, Christopher II, Naqwan, Brittany and Jalen, 19 great-great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Charity Waller; nieces, Lynn, Phyllis (Paul), Saundra (Jerry), Tanya and Michelle; nephews, Harold, Willard, Val and Keith, a host of other loving relatives and friends. The Order Of Service The Organ Prelude…Ms. Geneva Woods The Parting View…The Family The Selection…Choir & Congregation The Prayer…Rev. Minnie Morris The Sacred Scripture Reading…Rev. Mary Turner The Old Testament ~ The New Testament The Selection…John Faulkner "His Eye is on the Sparrow" Reflections…2 minutes please Acknowledgements…Mrs. Cheryl Darby Moment of Meditation (a time to think, to pray and to give thanks to God for allowing Bessye Banks Johnson to touch all our lives) The Selection…The Choir Words of Comfort…Rev. Donald H. Jordan, Sr. Retired Pastor, Allen Temple AME Church The Selection…Rev. Calvin Hooks Pastor, Higher Ground Church The Eulogy…Rev. Frederick Wright The Benediction…Rev. Frederick Wright The Recessional…The Clergy, Bearers & Family

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