Samantha Ann Johnson

Samantha Ann Johnson, the daughter of Sylvia (Pastor Johnie, Sr.) Edwards and the late Earl M. Johnson, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, December 11, 2017 at the age of 52 years. She was born on November 4, 1965 in Saginaw, Michigan.

Samantha, affectionately known as “Sam”, was a faithful and dedicated servant of God, and to the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Wesley W. Johnson, the Late Pastor Carroll L. Tatum, and her father, Pastor Johnie F. Edwards, Sr. Having a receptive heart, and sensing a call from God, Samantha served as Mt. Moriah’s Administrative Clerk, Youth Department Directress, Choir Director for the Youth, Fellowship, Male and Mission Choirs for 30 plus years. She was a part of the Mission Department and the Christian Education Department as a Sunday School teacher. She served as secretary and directress for the Children/Youth Choir in the Saginaw Valley Baptist District Association. Samantha was also a yearly delegate for the Wolverine Baptist State Convention and the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education. She was a dedicated employee for the Morley Company, substitute teacher for the Saginaw Public Schools, and was formerly employed by Super 8 Motel Corporation.

She leaves to cherish her memory parents, Pastor Johnie and Sylvia Edwards, Sr.; sisters, Serena Johnson-Adams, Desiree Edwards, Kalamazoo, Michigan; brother, Johnny (DeRhonda) Edwards, Jr., Kalamazoo, Michigan; nieces, Ashley-Yvonne Adams and Brooke Edwards; nephews, Minister Sir Andre Johnson, George Adams, Jr., DaJuan Edwards, and Jonathan Edwards; great-nephew, Jayden Bracey; aunts, Otelia (James) Jones, Olevia Lewis, Eula Hatter, Betty (Ahmed) Hassan, Margaret Johnson, Gloria (Pastor Johnny) Butler, Shreveport, Louisiana, Ruthie Hughes, Elgia (James) Curtis and Hattie Ruth (Rodger) Harris, all of Louisville, Mississippi, Hattie (Johnny) Cotton, Juanita Holmes, and Isabel (Robert) Wilson; uncles, Pastor Luciose (Kayron) Lewis, Jr., Edwin (Pastor Leslie) Lewis, Rollin Johnson, Collin Johnson, Robert Edwards, Albert (Gwen) Edwards, Louisville, Mississippi; god-sisters, Vanessa (Earnest) Norwood, September (Devon) Riley, Wahiawa, Hawaii, Katrina (Deacon James) Rhoden, Annette and Janette Chapman, Detroit, Michigan; godbrother, DeMarcus Carroll; spiritual grandparents, Rev. Dr. Roosevelt and Dr. Nurame Austin; spiritual mother, Rosa Woodhouse; spiritual aunts, Verlinda (Deacon Leroy) Baston, Dona Austin-Bigby, Debra Austin, and Sharon (Jimmie) Sanders; spiritual uncles, Alonzo Johnson, Wesley W. Johnson, Jr., Detroit, MI, and Demetrius Nickleberry, Los Angeles, California; spiritual niece, Aniya Gray-Rhoden; godchildren, Dequavion Harris, Jacksonville, Florida, Jordan Simpson, Caleb Baston and Quin’Tasia Nevitt; special friends, Tangya Moore, Cinthia Baker, Terri Moten, Shaun Ezell, Alice Cowely, Monica Meredith, Tamara Corley, Stephanie Ford, Tamelka Richardson-Doster and many cousins across the United States.

Samantha was preceded in death by her father, Earl M. Johnson; brother, Jarvis Juan Edwards; grandparents, Luciose and Jessie Mae Lewis, Sr., Oscar and Gertrude Johnson, Sr., and Makial and Virginia Liddell Edwards; aunts, Gertrude Lewis, Estella Reeves, Mammie E. Jones, and Ruth Swift; uncles, Dorsey Lewis, Carrington Johnson, Albert Johnson, Oscar Johnson, Jr., Austin Johnson, Larry Edwards, and Willie Reeves, Sr.