Clara Ruth Johnson

Mrs. Clara Ruth Johnson was born on April 24, 1910, to Bankhead and Mamie Johnson, in Dahlgren, Virginia. She was the fifth of twelve children; which she out lived all except her baby sister, Thelma.

Her formal schooling was at Little Ark School, Owens, Virginia.

Ms. Clara and Frank Johnson were married December 15, 1929. From this union ten children were born; Ruth, Hazel, Helen, Ralph, Gertrude, Lawrence, Carolyn, Esther, Ellen, and Stanley.

In order to assure her eternal salvation, Ms. Clara accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized by the late Pastor Augusta Lewis. She was a caring, dedicated, and faithful member of the Little Ark Baptist Church, King George, Virginia, until her health started to fail. In her earlier years, she hosted the Flower Club and Lodge meetings in our home, she fed, entertained many pastors/preachers and friends; no one was a stranger to her. Whenever our friends stopped by to see her, they were always greeted by her warm hospitality.

At many of our family gatherings, especially on Mother's Day and Thanksgiving Day, during our devotional time, our mother often say, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see." Those devotional times were very spirit-filled and uplifting as we praised our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for His goodness and mercy. Those memories will forever linger in our hearts.

Earlier in the marriage, our mother worked outside the home doing domestic work for other families, but never neglected the care she provided to her husband and children. We praise God and are proud that our mother provided the necessities in life; always caring for us, cooking, cleaning, and washing.

Ms. Clara took pride in the God-given cooking and baking talent. Not even her seven daughters were able to match or exceed her culinary skills. In later years, Ms. Clara could always be found in her favorite place—the kitchen baking those delicious Sweet Potato, Lemon Meringue Pies, yummy German Chocolate and Pound cakes.

Before her steps became shorter, Ms. Clara would out-shop her daughters. She loved to window-shop in the malls and she "shopped until we dropped"!

She lived the last six years with her daughter, Carolyn and son-in-law Thomas. They kept excellent care of her.

Her young adult life was geared to rearing ten children in our home and we celebrate a large and long legacy: Ruth Lucas (Morris) of Washington, DC; Hazel Bushrod (James) of Capital Heights, MD, Helen Ashton (Ralph) of Upper Marlboro, MD, Ralph Johnson (Arlene) of Capital Heights, MD, Carolyn Pollard (Thomas) of King George, VA, Esther Green (Harold) of Upper Marlboro, MD, Ellen Johnson (Kenneth) of Mitchellville, MD, and Stanley Johnson (Gladys) of King George, VA. Her husband, Frank Johnson (1978); daughter, Gertrude Jackson (2000) [Randolph (2005)]; and son, Lawrence Johnson (2004) (Geraldine) preceded her in death. She dearly cherished her twenty-six grandchildren; twenty-eight great-grandchildren; and fifteen great-great grandchildren. There were five generations within this family tree.

She also leaves her only living sister, Thelma Stanford of King George, VA; sister-in-law, Sara V. Keyes of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, church family and many, many friends.