“To everything there is a season: a time to be born” ~ Eccl. 3: 1-2
On April 3, 1927, Curtis and Flora Williams sent a jubilant proclamation throughout the Jacksonville, Texas neighborhood. It's a girl! It's a girl! They named her Evelyn Elizabeth Williams.
“When I was a Child” ~ I Cor. 13: 11
Evelyn attended elementary/junior high in Jacksonville, Texas and received her high school diploma from Fredrick Douglas High School. She attended Texas College where she earned a B.A. degree, graduated from Prairie View A&M University and received a Master's Degree in Education with an emphasis on Reading. She was a member of the McKinney Classroom Teacher Association, Fanny Finch PTA, Texas State Teachers Association, Collin County Teachers Association and Texas Retired Teachers Association. In 1979, she received the McKinney Classroom Teachers Association's Outstanding Teacher Award and was a proud member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International; member of the Daughters of Bethune; board member of the Heard Museum.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passaway behold all things become new" ~ II Cor. 5:17
Reared in a Christian home, Evelyn was led to Christ for salvation and confessed a hope in him as a child. Baptized at an early age, she became a member of the Benson Memorial CME Church in Jacksonville, Texas. Upon moving to McKinney Texas, Evelyn became a member of the St. James CME Church, where she served on the stewardess board, the trustee board, played the piano and was a member of the choir. She was also the president of the Missionary Society and served as a district officer on many district committees within the CME Church.
“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.” “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” ~ Proverbs 31: 10-12 & 28
Evelyn met and fell in love with Reuben Johnson. They married on December 9, 1950 and moved to McKinney, Texas. There she worked as a teacher in the Josephine Independent School District and later became an elementary teacher in the McKinney Independent School District. Education was important to her and her late husband. She proudly served as first lady of the Reuben Johnson Elementary School which was named after her late husband. In this role, she loved mentoring students. While she and her husband were pursuing their careers in education two beautiful and handsome children were conceived, Scott Rene Johnson and Dreand Renado Johnson.
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.” ~ II Tim. 4: 7 - 8
Saturday afternoon, October 26,2019 at 12:30 p.m. in the company of her sons, she opened her eyes and reached out for the hands of the Lord to carry her home where trouble and pain will be no more, and now her life is truly blessed because she is absent from the old body and present with the Lord.
“I will not leave you comfortless” ~ St. John 14: 18
Evelyn was preceded in death by Reuben, her husband of 37 years; father, Curtis Williams, Sr., mother, Flora Jefferson Williams; sisters, Vesta Mae Williams Brooks, Ora Lee Williams Lamb; brother, Curtis Williams, Jr. Left with a great legacy, two remarkable sons, Dr. Scott Johnson and Dr. Dreand Johnson; two amazing daughters-in-law, Laura Cullors Johnson and Phuong Nguyen Johnson; four beautiful and wonderful grandchildren, Kolbi Johnson, Kayla Johnson, Ky Johnson and Kora Johnson; four nieces, Shari K. Lamb, Nancy Sims and her husband Dr. T.A. Sims, Dorothy Berry, Zeta Faye White; three nephews, Larry Williams, Billy Charles Brooks and his wife, Pat Brooks, and Leonard Wattley Jr;, great nephew, Joseph Brown and wife, Karen; a host of great nephews and nieces; her favorite cousin, Donna Mathews; a multitude of cousins and friends.
A funeral service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, November 2, 2019 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013. Interment is to follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation Friday evening from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home.