Shirley Johnson

Mrs. Shirley Mae Theresa Louise Augustine Marcelle-Johnson entered the gates of heaven on February 20, 2019. Mrs. Johnson was the youngest of four children born in New Orleans, LA on November 17, 1930 to the late Mr. Marcelain Marcelle and the late Olivia Marcelle.
She completed her elementary through high school in New Orleans, LA. Mrs. Johnson graduated from Southern University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Mrs. Johnson received her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Prairie View University. She then earned her Supervisor Certificate from Texas A&I University in Kingsville, Texas. She taught two years in Slidell, LA before moving to Corpus Christi where she taught for twenty-five years at Booker T. Washington Elementary and J.A. Garcia Elementary. Mrs. Johnson was one of the first African Americans hired in 1975 as a Special Education Consultant from 1975-1989. She retired from Corpus Christi Independent School District in 1989.
Mrs. Shirley Johnson was married to the late William R. Johnson for 56 years until his death in 2007. They were blessed with three beautiful daughters, Julia Faye Newhouse (deceased), Syleria Johnson (deceased), and Juleria Johnson-Edwards (Marvin). She has six beautiful grandchildren, Justine Lemos (Luis), Tanya Johnson, De’mon Johnson, De’Keisha Johnson, Amarion Johnson, Avion Johnson-Edwards, and one God daughter, Mitzi Jones.
Mrs. Johnson was very active in her church and community. She was the youth director for 17 years at St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church, director of the middle and high school Sunday school departments, taught Sunday school, president and member of Mission Group Circle Esther and coordinator of Wednesday evening prayer service, member of the Sanctuary choir, member of Corpus Christi Women’s Bible Fellowship group, vice-president of the Corpus Christi Christian Women United Group, treasurer of the Deb Mother’s Club and coordinator of the annual fashion shows, co-chairman of the Miss Black Coastal Bend Beauty Pageant, member of the Harbor Playhouse Guild, soror and past president of Gamma Alpha Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., member of the NAACP, and a board member of the YMCA.
Mrs. Shirley Johnson was adored and admired by all those who had the privilege of being in her presence. She was “Gaga” /“Big Mama” to her grandchildren. “Peaches”, “Cookie”, “Movie Star”, and “DIVA”, to her family and friends, and “Mrs. J” to her past students. Mrs. Johnson enjoyed reading, cooking, working with young people, and assisting senior citizens. She will be dearly missed but her spirit will live on in the hearts and memories of those she loved.
She lived her life according to the words of one of her favorite scripture passages. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, March 1, 2019 at Corpus Christi Funeral Home with a Wake to be held at 7:00 p.m. that same evening.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at Tabernacle of Praise Church.
Interment to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.