Agnes A. Johnson

Agnes Augusta Johnson (nee Williams) was born January 16, 1930 in Granada, Mississippi to Douglas and Sepora Lee (nee Allen) Williams.  She was the thirteenth of fourteen children born to that union.  

Agnes, her parents, several siblings and two nephews fled from the farm that they were sharecropping in 1942.  In many ways, sharecropping was like slavery, so they had to flee in secrecy.  When their driver gave the word, they quickly exited their home leaving food on the stove and only grabbing the things that they could take quickly.

Agnes’s family joined the congregation of Mt. Zion Tabernacle Church led by Mother Lucy upon arriving in Joliet.  Although many extended family members were there, Agnes decided not to remain.  She eventually ended up at Mt. Zion Baptist Church where she remained until her health began to fail.  Along the way, Agnes confessed Christ as her Lord and Savior and quietly served on Mt. Zion’s Usher Board for more than forty years.

Agnes worked as a domestic starting at fifteen years old. Later, she began working as a cook at Silver Cross Hospital.  She remained there for decades until her retirement.  Her work ethic was second to none.  Before she was able to purchase a car, she would leave her home on foot at 3:00 am each day so that she would arrive in time to begin her shift by 4:00 am.  Like the U.S. mail carriers, she did this in sun, rain, sleet or snow.  Occasionally, she would risk her life by accepting rides offered by strangers when they saw her walking.  

Agnes was not one to shy away from a challenge.  For example, even though she was not a good bowler, she joined the bowling league at work just for the fun of it!  She also took a class in cake decorating without having any prior experience.  She did so well in the class that she was later able to make a wedding cake for her daughter’s tenth wedding anniversary.  Her signature cake became the turtle cake which was often requested by family and friends for gatherings.  In her seventies, she learned to play air hockey while vacationing in Florida and was able to walk down 400 stairs to tour a mine while on vacation in Branson, Missouri.

Agnes departed this life on April 30, 2024 at her home in Park Forest, Illinois.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; sons, Vonzell and Charles; and step-daughters, Mary Pitts and Maple Johnson. She was also preceded in death by all her siblings and their spouses:  Willie, Margaret, McKinley (Alberta), Joe (Vera), Annie, Henrietta (Jacob), R. Bell, Charles, Sylvester, Alberta (Roy), Ben (Zettie) and Louise (Lawrence) and Sylvester; and a best friend, Kizzie Cameron.

Agnes leaves behind her children: Leroy (Carmen), Jeanette, Shirley, Julita (Darren) and Taurus; a step-daughter, Annie Ewell;  thirteen grandchildren: Judaea (Kim), Crystal (Dwayne), Chereese, Maurice, Justin, Melody (Michael), Latacia (Daron), Gemae, Seretha, Aubrey, Tatyana (Yusef), Armone and Amari; twelve great grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; special nieces: Melody Williams (Robert), Linda Myart (Donald), Cynthia Robinson (Joe), Mary McDonald, Alicia Page; special nephew: Johnny Wright (Shirley); former son-in-law: Maurice Johnson; best friend, Mary Owens (Clyde); and three special family friends, Susan Ballun, Michelle Johnson and Burnell Holman as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

The family would like to express a special thanks, on behalf of Agnes, to all who offered help and support with her final care, especially to Oasis Hospice. 

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