Johnile Curry Johnson

Johnile Curry Johnson  Mulhearn Funeral Home Rayville, LA Mrs. Johnile Curry Johnson was born June 5, 1915 in Kentwood, LA and passed away Sunday morning, November 25, 2007. Visitation will be Monday, November 26 from 5-7 pm at Mulhearn Funeral Home in Rayville, LA. Funeral services will be held at Rayville United Methodist Church on Tuesday, November 27 th at 11 am with the Reverand Ted Freeland presiding. She has now joined her beloved husband Lester in the arms of their Savior. First and formost Mrs. Johnson was dedicated to the needs of her family, but she also had an extended family that was dear to her heart. Generations of English students in northern Louisiana were taught by Mrs. Johnson at both the high school and collegiate level. She took her profession seriously and everyone who passed through her classroom knew that she “meant business.” She was fascinated all the days of her life by the power and beauty of the language of the English- it's power to change minds, and its beauty to change hearts. She was perhaps most dedicated to those students of all races who were socially and economically disadvantaged. She believed that mastery of language and communication was the surest method to assure that these children would be able to attain their highest possible level of success in American society. Mrs. Johnson was an accomplished author of books of prose, poetry, and a master of the short story. Her book, Sunspur, was a bestseller and inspiration to all families who endured the difficulty of the post Bellum South and the Great Depression. Mrs. Johnson was an undergraduate of Northeast Center Junior College and Louisiana Tech. She held graduate degrees in English from Northeast Louisiana State College and North Texas State University. She was a member of Kappa Delta sorority and editor of The Northeast “Pow Wow” and “Tech Talk.” She was preceded in death by her husband Lester and will be greatly missed by her son Lester Wayne Johnson and her foster son Charles Glen Germany. She was both their most valued critic and staunchest advocate. Left also to cherish her memory is daughters -in- law Mary Barham Johnson and Jean Germany, and grandchildren Currie Marie Johnson, Lester Wayne Johnson, Jr., Thomas Armistead Johnson, Patrick Lee Johnson, Charles Christopher Germany and wife Robyn, Dana Janette and David Ware, and Justin and Julie Germany, also, four great-grandchildren and dear friend Melda Silk. Pallbearers are George B. Franklin, III, Fred Franklin, Roy Franklin, and grandsons Lester Wayne Johnson, Jr., Thomas Johnson, Patrick Johnson, Dr. Chris Germany, and Justin Germany. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. David Thompson, Dr. Kenneth Sehon, and Joey Chaney. Mrs. Johnson's family also wants to acknowledge her cherished caregivers Betty Avants, Roxie Gibbs, Brenda Jackson, Sheila Stephenson, and Shonica Jones. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Rayville United Methodist Church or to the Louisiana Methodist Children's Home in Ruston.