Mary L. Johnson

Mary L. Evans-Johnson was born on January 28, 1941 in Bay Springs, MS to Sylvester and Lucille Evans, the oldest of five children.  She departed this life on Tuesday, November 11, 2019, at 8:30 P.M. at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, IL surrounded by her loving family.

In 1968, Mary married her sweetheart, Sam Johnson, in Champaign, IL.  A year later they decided to move and relocated to Joliet, IL.  To this union, five children were born. They remained together, and married as husband and wife until the Lord called Sam home in 1981.  Mary was a devoted wife, homemaker, and mother to her children, and as they grew up, Mary would attend church services on occasions at Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church.

Mary’s favorite color was purple.  She loved watching Lifetime TV, the Chicago Bulls, loved to eat and especially loved watching her daytime soap operas every day either at her home or would walk over to her mother’s house to sit and watch the soaps.  Mary was a quiet, mild, and meek person.  She also spent time doing various activities at the Senior Center.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Sam (1981); son, Marshall McNeil (2014), parents, Sylvester and Lucille Evans; two grandchildren, Demitrius Williams and Sylvia Williams; one brother, Johnnie Evans; two brothers-in-law, Eddie Smith and Keith Curl; a special friend, Tommy Louis; grandmother, Alberta Smith; eight aunts, two uncles, and three cousins.

Mary leaves to cherish her loving memory: six children, Diane Williams of Naperville, IL; Perry Evans of Milwaukee, WI; Rosemary (Ervin) Evans-McGee of Joliet, IL; Raymond and Steven Johnson, both of Joliet, IL; Rhonda Johnson of Champaign, IL; two sisters, Rosie B. Smith of Germantown, TN; and Martha Gibson-Curl of Joliet, IL; one brother, Lamont Evans of Champaign, IL; 21 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great-grandchildren; cousins, numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, other relatives and friends who will miss Mary deeply.

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