Dates
Emma Mae Johnson was born on November 1, 1930 in McAdoo, Texas, and was the third child born to Sullie and Lillie Giddings. She grew up in Hillsboro, Texas where she was educated in the public school system, and later furthered her education at Prairie View A&M College where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Home Economic with a minor in Elementary Education. She graduated with honors. After college, she started her career as a teacher at the Church of God in Christ school in Lexington, Mississippi. She remained in Lexington for two years and then returned to Hillsboro, Texas where she taught Home Economics until December 1954. In 1954, she married the love of her life, Earl T. Johnson (who preceded her in death). Upon moving to San Angelo, Texas, she was hired in the San Angelo Independent School District and remained there until she retired in 1986.
In 1955, Emma joined Alexander Temple Church of God in Christ in San Angelo, Texas where the Elder Wilford Alexander was the pastor. She sang in the choir, and was the musician. In 1964, Elder Alexander moved to Santa Ana, California, and a new pastor was sent to the church, and Emma begin to get more involved in the church and started to let her spiritual gifts show. In 1977, a new church was formed, Deliverance Tabernacle Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Elder W. W. Weatherspoon, and she became a member. In October 2001, she was licensed as an Evangelist Missionary in the Church of God in Christ, in the Texas Northwest Jurisdiction.
While balancing the roles of wife, mother, and educator, God enlarged Emma’s territory to include various responsibilities and offices at the district and jurisdictional level. Among those duties, she was appointed as the State Young Women’s Christian Council (YWCC) President, Chairlady of the Youth Department, and District Missionary of the Midland District.
In 2014, Emma became a member of Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ and became the Church Mother, President of the Mother’s Board, Sunday School Reviewer, along with other additional duties assigned to her. She was a prayer warrior and an advisor to many young women - training them in the way of Holiness. Emma covered a lot of ground during her lifetime, going to almost every Women’s Convention held at both the State and International levels. She also attended numerous Holy Convocations held in Lubbock, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee.
Mother Emma Johnson was preceded in death by her husband, the late Deacon Earl T. Johnson, her parents Sullie and Lillie Giddings, her sister Ella K. Henley, her brother Sullie Giddings, Jr., her daughter Cheryl Clark, and a special friend Dorothy McNally. Her memories will forever be cherished by her daughter Cecelia Johnson of San Angelo, Texas; grandsons, Dorian Johnson of Dallas, Texas and Aaron Henderson (Brittany) of San Angelo, Texas; two nieces Lily Jackson and Verna Allen (Jackie), and nephew William Cobb, all of San Angelo, Texas. Eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; special cousins Cassie Nowlin, Oxnard California and Rosie Lee Jackson, Wichita Falls, Texas, and many, many other nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, relatives, and friends.
The family will receive friends for visitation from 3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M., Friday, January 5, 2018 at Harper Funeral Home. The Funeral Service will be 2:00 P.M., Saturday, January 6, 2018 at Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ in San Angelo. Interment will follow at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers for the service will be Wayne Giddings, Tony Allen, Jonathan Smith, Harvey Allen, Joe Patillo and Steve DeWitt.