Addie M. Johnson

Services for Addie Mae Johnson (92) of Blanchard, Texas will be held Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St Luke Missionary Baptist Church (1872 FM 3126) with Pastor Clara Johnson officiating. Interment will follow at Corrusville Cemetery. Public viewing will take place on Friday, February 9, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Public viewing will also be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church. Addie Mae Johnson departed her loving family in Houston Texas on January 29, 2024 at the age of 92, in Houston, Texas. She was loved by her family and the community.

Family, Community

Addie was born on May 17, 1931, in Alabama Point near Livingston, Texas. She grew up and remained living in the surrounding area. The greater part of her life spent living on what is now called Jack White Road in Blanchard, Texas. Addie was the eldest daughter of nine children born to the late Jack White Sr. and Mary Lee (Grace) White. In 1947 she met Truman (Troumer) Johnson Sr. and on July 10, 1948 they were married. Addie’s mother died when she was 17 leaving her dad with several young children to raise. Addie alongside her husband filled the gap and helped raise her siblings. Jack Sr. would later marry Alzie Henderson who became a friend and a loving grandmother to Addie’s children. During Addie’s and Truman’s union they were blessed with seven children (James Henry, Addie Mae, Truman Jr., Anna Darlene, Marilyn Fennette, Lorenzo Alandrus, and Elzie Faye. God, family, and community were important aspects of Addie’s life. Addie was a lifelong member of St Luke Missionary Baptist Church. She raised her children in the Church and served many roles at St. Luke. Once a month for many years she and her children helped various elderly members of the community.

Education

Addie did not graduate High School, but education was always a high priority. She had married Truman the summer before her senior year of High School. During those times she was not allowed to return to school as a married woman. Nonetheless, Addie drove an old truck her father converted to a makeshift school bus so that her siblings and other Black children in Blanchard could attend High School. Forever wanting to receive as much education for herself she enrolled in and graduated from Beauty School in the early 1950’s and received her GED later in life. Addie was a self-taught woman who helped her father with contracts and various legal matters.

Career

While the greatest titles she ever held was homemaker, mother, grandmother, wife, daughter and sister she worked various jobs and was an entrepreneur. She worked at a restaurant in Beacon Bay and worked in the Onalaska Elementary School starting as a cafeteria worker and advanced to the title of Cafeteria Manager. She also drove the school bus for the district. When she retired from the school district in May 1996 she and Troumer opened a small store called A & T Mini Mart. It was well known for her delicious Bar B Cue and service. While the beauty shop, school district and the store were her major careers achievements, throughout her life Addie worked several other jobs to help support her family. (picked cotton, worked in laundry). Addie is preceded in death by her husband, Truman, son Truman Jr, grandson, Leon Young, great-grandson Dedrick Young, son-in-laws Tyrone Gardner and Wilbert Thomas II, parents, Jack and Mary White, stepmother Alzie White, and 3 siblings Tommie White, Willie White and Mary Foster. She leaves to cherish her memories six children: James Johnson (Eunice), Addie Gardner, Anna Young (Leonard), Marilyn Thomas, Lorenzo Johnson, and Elzie Faye Barnet (Abbie) as well as 13 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends