Mabel Ware Johnson

A Memorial Service will be held for Mabel Lewis Ware Johnson on Saturday, May 21st, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Washington, Georgia. The Service will be conducted by the Rev. Albert Huyck, the Rev. Bob Murphy and the Rev. Kevin Madden. Mabel was born on February 17, 1915, in Washington, Georgia and died on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at The Gentavia Hospice Care Unit at Athens Regional Hospital in Athens, Georgia. She was one of seven children, and the daughter of the late Nicholas Claude and Mabel Claire Lewis Ware. She is preceded in death by her husband, James Arvid Johnson, Jr. She grew up and attended school in Washington. Mabel was a member of the first Washington High School Band, a Cheerleader and played Basketball.After graduation from High School, she worked as a seamstress and bookkeeper in the Dry Cleaning business which she and her husband owned and operated for 52 years. She was a lifelong, active member of the First Baptist Church in Washington.She was a member of the Vannie Spratlin Sunday School Class, and WMU.Over the years, Mabel taught Sunday School, was WMU President, a member of the Hand Bell Choir, taught Vacation Bible School, was Girls Auxiliary Leader, provided refreshments for Bible School, was an Office volunteer, and helped prepare breakfast for Revivals. The Mable Ware Johnson WMU Circle is named in her honor. She was an active member of the Pilots Club, The Woman’s Club, The Garden Club, the Hospital Auxiliary, and founder of Ala-Non in Washington. Mabel enjoyed sewing for her three daughters. She made their dance costumes, majorette uniforms, prom dresses, recital dresses, and the Wedding Dress which all of her daughters wore. She never missed seeing her two sons play football or attend Band Concerts for all five children. At the age of 72 she began taking Art Lessons with Delores McAvoy. Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-laws, Carole Johnson Murphy and Bob of Bishop, Georgia, Lynda Johnson Gresham and Johnny of Marietta, Emilie Claire Johnson Waters and Mark of Washington, Georgia, and two sons, James Arvid Johnson, III of Washington, and Ernest Warren Johnson and Marilyn of Marietta, Georgia.Fourteen Grandchildren; and Nineteen Great Grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Memorial Contributions be made to Broken Vessels Renewal Ministries (Rev. Bob Murphy, Director) 1060 Bradford Place, Bishop, Georgia, 30621; Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, in honor of Morgan Johns, (granddaughter of Lynda and Johnny Gresham), 801 Roeder Rd. Ste. 750, Silver Springs, Md. 20910 and First Baptist Church of Washington, 105 West Robert Toombs Ave., Washington, Ga. 30673.