Mother Imogene Johnson was born to the late Cecil Byrd on March 5, 1939 in Gary, Texas. She was one of two children, and both her sister, Dorothy Griffin, and mother Cecil Byrd precedes her in death. Mother Johnson graduated from Turner High School in 1959, she then came to Dallas to live and seek employment with her older cousin Ora Lee Gray. It was there on the job where she met a young man, Willie Ray Johnson, who began to pursue her and didn’t stop until he finally won her over. The two were then married on December 10th, 1960 and to this union they raised nine children. They were married for 49 1/2 years until the Lord called Willie home. Their love was so strong that death was the only way to separate them.

For several years Mother Johnson was a homemaker, and then she began her career as a cafeteria cook with DISD. She retired from DISD after 39 years of service. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and faithful servant of God. Her kindness, strength and unwavering faith touched the lives of many.

In 1981 Mother Johnson was persuaded by one of her daughters, Trina, to come to church, Trina had been witnessing to her mother about salvation, and Mother Johnson gave her life to the Lord. Mother Johnson often quoted scriptures, one of her favorites was Psalm 124:1, “If it had not been for the Lord who was on our side.” She served God faithfully. She was a faithful member of Spiritual Life COGIC, under the leadership of the late Asst. Supt. Willie James Brown and Miss’y Fannie Brown, and later under Elder Fredrick Brown and Lady Nicole Brown. Mother Johnson served as the church mother, Sunday School Teacher, Bible Band President, Usher Board President, Mistress of Ceremony or whatever she could find her hands to do. She loved talking on the phone to family, Pinky Lee, Ora Lee, Ren Joe B. Johnson, Daisy and others. She often called the older saints, Mother Cannon and Mother Reeves and others to encourage them, as they could not attend church as often as they wanted to. She enjoyed laughing and talking with Elder Willie Brown and Sis Fannie Brwon, Sis Francis “Paula” Johnson as well as Elder Fredrick Brown and Lady Nicole Brown who called her during the fasting season daily, laughing and giving her scriptures for the day. She loved laughing with Anthony Brown about her offering, she would give him pennies to count.

God blessed her to meet and work with a lot of wonderful people, she loved working with Bishop Nathiel D. Wells. She also looked forward to attending their Cowboy Gala. Mother Johnson would often call her younger cousin Sis “Little Momma” Gray to sing when she had a Bible Band program.

Other family she joins in eternal life alongside her mother and husband, one daughter Sheree Robertson and son-in-law Milwayne.

Mother Johnson leaves behind her legacy to (8) children: Willie Ray Johnson Jr (Juanita), Letitia Johnson, Annette Johnson, Trina Johnson, Sophia Craig (Dale), LaVonda Johnson, Leondrea Hollway and Raldon Holloway; (1) son-in-law Donnell Robertson; (15) grandchildren: Shaniqua, Calvin (LaQuitta), Candice, Dominece (Jazz), Kelvin Jr, ShaVonda, DeUmbre, Coneshia, Desirray, Kendre, Raychell, Jennette, Rayneisha, Tyler and Makayla; (14) great grandchildren; (3) great-great grandchildren along with a host of other relatives, dear friends and saints of the Most High God. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy of love and faith will live on forever.