Joe T. Johnson

On November 17, 2024, Joe Thomas Johnson of South Bend, Indiana died peacefully at the age of 84, at Center for Hospice Care, Mishawaka, Indiana. Joe was born on August 18, 1940, to the union of Willie Grant Johnson and Mae Ruby Johnson in Ridgley, Tennessee.

Joe relocated to South Bend at an early age to work with his uncle, Elder Claude Wyatt, who owned a construction company. He found his niche, he developed a love for carpentry, construction, repairing and building. He was employed for more than six decades in the construction industry. He was never without employment due to his strong work ethics. He was self-employed, as well. The best version of Joe could be seen when he interacted with his grandchildren, nieces and nephews joking and doing childish things with them. Joe especially enjoyed gardening with his wife and sister-in-law. He looked forward to spring, he helped prepare the soil, tilling it for planting which involved hard work, but for Joe it was relaxing. He would kindly offer the vegetables to neighbors and friends. Joe was a member of St Paul Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, where he attended until his health declined.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Grant Johnson and Mae Ruby Johnson, his loving wife of 57 years, Verlene Foulks Johnson, his six brothers, Willie Lee, Lois Edward, Harold Ray, Robert, George Grant, Willie James, Calvin and W.J. Johnson, his three sisters, Betty Jean Smith, Martha Louise Johnson and Linda Johnson. Left to cherish his memory are his two devoted sons Nathaniel Johnson and Ronald (Janice) Johnson of South Bend, IN, daughter Jackquline Johnson of Orlando, FL, his three granddaughters Kyana (Charles) Hartman, Kyra and Kendall, his three great-grandchildren, Kinsley Hartman, Amir and Kairo Denton, his four sisters Mae Pearl McCoy of Ridgley, TN, Minnie Kate Johnson, Becky Aburlme Johnson and Joann Brush all of Minneapolis, MN, his six brothers David Johnson, Jerry (Kellie) Johnson, Hobart Johnson, Willie Johnson, Lamar Johnson, Dennis (Roxanne) Johnson all of Minneapolis, MN. Joe also left behind three close supportive sisters-in-law, Geneva and Mary Foulks, and Lillian Dawson all of South Bend, IN, and his three brothers-in-law, Robert, Tommy and Calvin Foulks, and an extended family of great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, former co-workers, and church family.

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