Mary Jane Johnson

Mary Jane Johnson 86 of Farmville passed into her Heavenly eternal home on October 28, 2014, following a long illness. Born on Sept. 16, 1928, in Keysville, VA., she was the daughter of Jake A. and Martha F. Whirley. She was the widow of Rev. Worth M. Johnson, a retired pastor in the Assemblies of God for 55 years. They retired in 2009 and relocated from Cedarville, Maryland to Farmville. They were married for 65 years until his passing in 2011. Survivors are 3 children: James W. Johnson (Kay) of Severn, Md., Barbara J. Johnson of Richmond, and Juanita S. Johnson of Farmville, and several grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters; Patricia W. Wright (Shelton) of Farmville and Elizabeth W. Bryan (Kenneth) of Baltimore, Md. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by two sisters; Fannie L. Whirley and Louise Whirley Cawthorne and by two brothers; Marvin A.Whirley and John H.Whirley. Mary Jane became a Christian as a young teenager, surrendering her life to the Lord at the Ash Camp Baptist Church in Keysville. The family later joined the Marble Hill Church of God in Meherrin, where she met her future husband, Worth Johnson and they were married in 1946. She loved music and enjoyed singing in church, with her family and in the various churches she and her husband served. She enjoyed her favorite gospel music played on her bedside stereo as long as she was able. Her husband began his pastorate at the Faith Tabernacle Assemblies of God in Blackstone, Va., and pastored also in Richmond, Emporia, and in West Virginia. They also traveled in an evangelistic ministry for several years. This was one of Mary Jane’s favorite ministries throughout their 65 years of ministering for the Lord, and her husband always called on her to bring a special song to the congregation. They had two different calls to the Cedarville Assemblies of God in Brandywine, Md., from which he retired in 2009. Mary Jane was well known as an excellent cook, especially for her famous coconut cake. A funeral services will be held on Nov. 1, 2014 at 1:00PM in the Cedarville Assembly Church in Brandywine, Maryland, where she will be laid to rest beside her husband. Family will receive friends at the Cedarville Church at 11:30AM until time of service followed by burial in the church cemetery.