Our precious momma, grandma, and best friend, made a change in her address
on February 17, 2011 at 7:52 a.m. Her new address is: Ara Mae Johnson in heaven with my Lord. Get your soul ready and come meet me here!
Momma grew up in the Cole Central Community. At the age of 13, she met the man of her dreams and
became the bride of that man, LaVelle Johnson. She never worked outside of her home. Daily she served her Lord and her family there. She was always on her knees praying for them.
As we were growing up, Momma always had a hot breakfast on
the table by 5:30 every morning. She packed Daddy’s lunch each day in a syrup can with lots of good country food and a lot of love. She loved to cook and boy did she do it well! Her homemade coconut cake is known all over many parishes and states.
She tried to make sure that her children and grandchildren always had one delivered to them on their birthdays.
Momma loved many things in life. She loved a clean home. Momma’s home was kept spotless with much pride.She was often overheard
joyfully singing while she cleaned. She loved working in her yard. Her yard was a replica of Hodges Garden. At the hospital, while she was sick, the code to get in to see her was “flowers.” When we told her this, she liked it and gave us a big smile.
She loved red birds and anyone who entered her home was able to see this. Her family and friends made sure she had plenty given to her over the years. She loved working at the election polls where she was able to visit with all her friends and catch
up on the latest news. She loved her family and never tired of time spent with us. What Momma loved the most was her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She showed her love to him and of him, by spending her life humbly serving Him. Her joy didn’t come
from material possessions, but from her relationship with Christ. She loved going to church to worship Him. Her life was an incredible example of the Lord to all who came in contact with her. One of her favorite sayings was: Happiness keeps you
sweet. Trials keep you strong. Sorrows keep you human. Failures keep you humble. Success keeps you glowing. But only God keeps you going.
At the end of her life here on earth, Momma was very sick. Even in her sickness, she was praising
Jesus. Until she took her last breath, she was pointing her finger towards heaven and wanting all that were surrounding her hospital bed to sing. She would direct the song with her little finger which made everyone in her room want to shout for
glory.
Every since her daughter was little, their secret signal for “I Love You” was a twinkling of the nose to each other. Here in the last few days this secret was shared with the boys. All the family visiting Momma at the hospital
enjoyed this same twinkling of the nose. She was able to communicate how much she loved everyone right up to the very end.
Momma is survived by sons, LaVell “Pete” Johnson (Olivia) of Pitkin, Leonard Johnson (Doris) of Rosepine, Lealon
Johnson (Terry) of Pitkin; daughter, Leola J. Green (Wayne) of Dry Creek; brothers, Darville Burks of DeRidder and Bobby Burks of DeRidder; sister Evelyn Isbell of DeRidder; 18 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren and one great great
grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, of 44 years, Lavelle Johnson; son, Lee Johnson; brothers, Roy T. and Shelby Burks; sister, Joy Pearl Townsley; and an infant daughter, Lula Mae Johnson.
Momma will be
remembered as a wife, mother, friend, encourager and corrector. Most of all she will be remembered as a true example of how one should live life – humbly living for God’s glory.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, February 18,
2011, at Labby Memorial Funeral Home in DeRidder.
Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 19, 2011, at the funeral home. Ministers officiating will be brothers Loyd Jeans, Gary Bankston, Mark Christian, Alvin Glaze and
Sam Burchard. Burial will be at Lone Star Cemetery in Cole Central under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home of DeRidder.
SHOW LOVE, OFFER LOVE AND BE LOVE TO ALL.
Psalms 142:4
YOU KNOW MY PATH.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.labbymemorial.com.