Nona Mae Johnson

Nona Mae Edmondson Johnson, born in Barney Ga, on April 15, 1924, passed away peacefully in Quitman on September 30, 2018 surrounded by friends and family.  She was one of seven children.  As a south Georgia native she was a true Southern Belle and matriarch of the family  She raised six children and lavished attention on her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She married Charles "C.W." Johnson on February 9, 1946.  She loved to tell us that she had married "the ice man."  She met C.W. because he delivered the blocks of ice once a week to her parents home, before the time of refrigeration.  She was an excellent seamstress and made extra money for the family by mending and hemming clothes for the working women of Brooks and surrounding counties.  She was a great cook and loved having family over to "sit for a spell" and have a slice of whatever dessert she had cooked up that week.  Her German Chocolate cake and pound cakes were a family favorite.  During the holidays she would make fudge, divinity and oatmeal haystacks.  She made dozens of wedding cakes, pies and goodies that she sold.  Most evenings you could catch her sitting on her front porch rocking, watching the cars go by while shelling peas, snapping green beans, or preparing other items from her garden to be canned or frozen.  Some of our fondest memories are of the whole family getting together to make cream corn, can stewed tomatoes, make picked peaches or pears, and of course her famous sweet pickles.  Grandchildren would help collect eggs and churn butter for baking.  Her homemade butter was sought after by all of the local ladies to use in their cakes.  She always had a pantry full of goodies filled with things she put up from her garden.  Holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas were grand occasions filled with family, friends and plenty of homecooked delectable.  She always had fresh sweet tea and coffee ready for her guests and visitors alike. She was a member of Hickory Head Baptist Church and later of Northside Baptist Church both of which are in Quitman.  She especially loved going to the church "Homecoming" services followed by a meal.

Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her parents, Anna Mae & William "BillJack" Edmondson: brothers, Junior, Hack and Remer Edmondson; sisters, Catherine "Cat" George; and Geraldine "Gerry" Hendricks; husband, Charles William "C.W." Johnson; and granddaughter, Sheila Smith Huff.  Survivors include her sons, Buddy (Serena) Johnson, David (Margaret) Johnson; daughters, Patsy (Sonny) Godwin, Marjorie (Jimmy) Smith, Brenda (Olin) Blair, and Debra Dozier.  She also leaves behind a large legacy with 16 grandchildren, and 25 great grandchildren, all of whom will miss her dearly; brother, Bobby Ray Edmondson; sisters in law, Virginia Mitchell, and Jane Edmondson; brothers in law, Turner Johnson, and Terry Hendrix. 

Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 4, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Northside Baptist Church with Rev. Larry Harris officiating.  The family will be receiving friends Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Maxwell-Purvis Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Northside Baptist Church Building Fund.  

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