Myrtle Johnson

Myrtle Lee Rushing Johnson of Statesville died peacefully Sunday January 26, 2014 at home. She was born: October 21, 1928, Pageland, South Carolina to the late Lula Pierce and John Bunyan Rushing. She is predeceased by her two brothers, John Thomas Rushing and Willie Stevenson Rushing; her husband, Rev. William Allen Johnson and a son, Joseph Edwin Johnson. At the age of five, Myrtle entered Presbyterian Orphanage, now Barium Springs Home for Children. She graduated from Barium High School in 1947 where she was secretary of her junior and senior class. After graduating Barium, Myrtle attended Kings Business College in Charlotte and worked at Americus Trust, now Bank of America. In 1948, Myrtle married her Barium sweetheart, William Allen Johnson, from Scotland County in the old Little Joe's Presbyterian Church on the Barium campus. W. A. and Myrtle lived in Maxton, North Carolina from 1952 until 1976, where they were both active in the First Presbyterian Church. Myrtle was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Worthy Matron. For a short time she was librarian at the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport. She worked for a number of years as head bookkeeper at Southern National Bank in Laurinburg. The Johnsons owned and operated funeral homes in Laurinburg and Maxton. Myrtle was a licensed funeral director and a former member of the North Carolina Funeral Director's Association. In the late 1970's and early 1980's, Myrtle served as Chief Executive of the non-profit, United Way Mental Health Association of Fayetteville and Cumberland County. She was active in church work. She held numerous offices in the Women of the Church. She served as church youth advisor for both junior and senior high; supported the Boy Scouts of America with all four of her sons, Eagle Scouts. Throughout her adult life, Myrtle was an advocate for Barium Springs Home for Children. She credits Barium with giving her a roof over her head, food to eat, clothing to wear, and a quality primary and secondary education. Myrtle was fond of saying: "Who else but an orphan could claim having 600 brothers and sisters?" Myrtle is survived by four sons and one daughter: William Shaw Johnson (Charlotte) of Fayetteville, Landrea Kelley Rhyne (Rick) of Statesville, Allen Thomas Johnson (Carol) of Monroe, Hughie Ray Johnson,(Heather) of Rayle, GA Seven Grandchildren, Kelley Johnson Waggy (Christopher) of Raeford. Adrianne Rhyne Cornett (Creighton) of Candler, Meredith Lee Rhyne of Asheville, William Warren Johnson of Monroe, Courtni and Montana Johnson of Arden and Morgan Johnson of Rayle, GA. Two Great-Grandchildren Lorelai and Emmaline Waggy of Raeford. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at Forest Park Presbyterian Church of Statesville, NC. The Rev. Scott Jeffreys will officiate and assisted by Chaplin Sharon Snow of HPC. Family will receive friends in the church parlor from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. Active pallbearers will be the NC Highway Patrol. Graveside services will be Thursday January 30, 2014 at Oak Grove Cemetery, Wilmington Street, Maxton, NC. The family would like to acknowledge the special care provided by Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County and especially Texie Blackburn RN , Latisha Agnew CNA; Dana Meyer CNA and Jane Johnson RN, Jan Bustle, Paulette Klein and Monica Hancock Caregivers in the home. Memorials may be given to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, Inc.2347 Simonton Road Statesville, NC.28625. Forest Park Presbyterian Church PO Box 1222 Statesville, NC 28687 Barium Springs Home for Children PO Box 1 Barium Springs, NC 28010. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com Nicholson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.