Lucretia Jarrett
In November 2003, our Mom passed away with stomach cancer, ten days short of her 61st birthday. Her joyful personality touched everyone she came in contact with.
At age 54 she took a bold step and left her hometown where she had been a self-employed hairdresser for 24 years to start her life over. She eventually ended up working at the State Employees Credit Union in Winston-Salem where she earned the title of Senior Teller. She worked very hard to earn this position, and was very proud of it.
Lucretia will most be remembered for her love and dedication to mission building team trips. Over the years, she went to various underprivileged areas and countries and participated in numerous mission trips. She could pour concrete and put roofing shingles on as well as any other worker on her team.
Her favorite place was the beach, and she wanted to eventually own a place there. She loved walking on the beach and could spend hours soaking up the sun.
She left behind her mother, two daughters, two sons-in-law and three grandchildren.
The family has found comfort in knowing that someone else has been provided sight through our mother. We know she would be glad to be able to help out other individuals. Through her patience and caring she touched many people’s lives.
We all love her dearly and she will be greatly missed.
Jerry Johnson
This is my husband, Jerry. He was a good man. He worked in a cotton mill in the weave shop as a “lease out”person.
He liked to fish and deer hunt some times. His favorite thing to do was making bird houses. Jerry loved to watch the birds.
His home was in Georgia, but he was born and raised in North Carolina, and died in North Carolina.
He loved his family, his friends, his church, and me, his wife of twenty six years. I loved this man.
Mary Johnson, wife
Lynn R. Johnson
Lynn R. Johnson was a devoted family man. His family was his life. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a character, and was loved by all that met him.
Lynn loved music, especially the 50’s and 60’s. His favorite song was Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gee’s. He was stubborn to a fault. In life there was the right way, the wrong way, and Lynn’s way – he loved to argue!
He enjoyed playing cards and sports, which included hunting, fishing, and baseball. His favorite team was the Cleveland Indians, and in football, the Cleveland Browns. He was a great bowler and was extremely good at horseshoes. He was left handed and always complained about living in a right-handed society.
While playing baseball when he was younger, he hit a home run and as he was running the bases, he lost his upper denture. He swooped up his denture and put it back in his mouth, dirt and all, and proceeded to home plate. The crowd roared with laughter. Oh, what a man!
Lynn was a hard worker and gave 110% even when he was ill. He even worked five days with a mild heart attack. His co-workers always commented on what a good worker he was, and he never let anyone down.
He was an inspiration to his family and we are extremely proud of his accomplishments in life, no matter how trivial they might seem to others. He was our hero. We miss him so much, but knowing his eyes have helped others to see life again, or for the first time, has been a great comfort to us, his family.
Melvin Massey Johnson
Melvin, truly a loving and affectionate son, was always genuinely conscious of others and their needs. Generous, caring, faithful, happy, unfailingly courteous, friendly, confident, gracious, and enthusiastic are some of the characteristics that portray my son. He loved life and he loved his fellowman. Because of his great sense of humor, no one could help but feel at ease in his presence. It seems he felt it was his duty to make those around him feel he was their friend.
He had strong convictions and he shared with others his ideals, thoughts, and principles. Happiness was his when he was watching sports, enjoying a delectable meal, or entertaining other patients at the VA hospital. Additionally, he thoroughly enjoyed his work and took great pride in helping students focus on their studies and plans. Each student was a special person to Melvin, who was dedicated and committed to counseling students toward success.
Near the end of his journey, Melvin exhibited his strong Christian faith to me by these words. “Don’t worry, God is with me, and I love you, Mama.”
God bless you, and may you continue to carry on your good work for the betterment of others.
Ruth L. Johnson, mother
Pauline JohnsonSometimes a life crosses into our own – might be from just a casual encounter, or from a personal friendship.
Miss Pauline left her impression on the many lives she touched. She had a smile that came from deep within. A genuine smile that radiated from her heart, and showed through her eyes.
She was a caring mother and a loving wife. She left her lasting smile within the hearts of many.
Stephen (Steve) Lee JohnstonSteve came as the love of my life 4 years ago, long after I’d given up the hope of ever finding my soul mate. He was one of the most selfless, loving and generous people anyone could ever have known. He was one of those people who would take off his shoes and give them to you, if he thought you needed them, or give you one of his kidneys.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He began hunting when he was 3 years old. He cooked and became a master of old-timey Brunswick stew, turtle stew, and anything else that would draw a crowd to fellowship and fun. Steve was a man’s man and could very well have been the one person you would want to have around when everything else in the world shut down.
While my sadness at being without him is endless, I was so blessed to have had him in my life. He will always have my heart.
Carolyn B. Johnston, Wife
My son, Steve, was an avid outdoorsman. He started fishing at age 3. He had a loving, generous heart. He helped anyone who asked and gave everything he could of himself and his material possessions.
I am very proud he was a donor. It only proved to me, his mother, that even when he went to live in another place he still had something very special to give – his sight. To me he is very precious, very special, and loved very much.
Margaret S. Paulk, Mother
Betty S. Jones
June Marie Jones
I could write a novel about my late wife, June Marie Jones, and all that she has meant to me, but instead, I wish to cite what I consider her accomplishments, and what she overcame to effect them. We met quite by accident in 1988 with neither of us interested in a real relationship, as she had just left an extremely physically abusive relationship, and I a marriage without substance.
We married after a few weeks of getting to know each other, but soon after effects of her previous physical abuse began to affect her physically. However, she maintained her private duty nursing position with an older, severely handicapped patient. She maintained this position, even though her heart problems, back problems, and Parkinson’s disease became more prevalent.
She maintained positions of geriatric care up until the last 4 months of her life, cut short at age 64. Her heavenly spirit may now be honored by the gift of sight for the living.
Louis Jones
Proud husband
Randy Jones
Randy was born 4/5/80 in Pennsylvania County, Danville, VA, son of David Neal Jones of Danville VA, and Patricia Sherrill Pendleton of Statesville, NC. He was employed by Terry’s Carpet Care. He is survived by an older sister, Tiffany, a twin sister, Brandy, and a younger brother, Bradley Scott, as well as his maternal grandparents, Earl W. Sherrill, Jr. and Inge P. Sherrill of Statesville. Randy was a member of Fallstown Baptist Church.
As far back as I can remember Randy always wanted to be a fireman or patrolman. He would always watch the fire trucks as they came by with all the lights on, and would say “mama, that’s what I want to do.”
At the age of 14, he joined the Explorer Post. At age 18, he joined as a Senior Trainer and he was Squadsman of the year in 2000. Randy was a Lieutenant with the Cool Springs Fire Department, and a Captain with the Iredell County Rescue Squad. He joined the Cool Springs Fire Department on 5/26/97 as one of the first members of the Junior Firefighter Program.
On 4/28/98, Wilson Security gave him a commendation for assisting with extinguishing a car fire at North Iredell High School.
Randy was promoted to the position of Lieutenant in May 2002. He had joined the rescue squad at 14 years of age as a junior member, and had eight years of service. He was one of the key members of Cool Springs Medical Response Program, and was a valuable member of both departments.
Brian Keith Jordan
Love you – mean it! That is how Brian would always end his calls to me. He was a joy from the moment he was born. He was a gentle, funny, thoughtful, creative, loving child, and became even more so as he became a man.
Brian worked for Heineken USA a short five years. He made many friends among his coworkers, management and customers through his old-time work ethics, love of people, and mutual respect. He became the youngest regional manager for Heineken USA.
Brian loved music, reading, writing, sunrises and sunsets and sports. He also loved animals and children. I am now raising his two “daughters”, shown in the picture with him.
He would have been a wonderful husband and father. He lived in Charleston, SC, and fell in love with the people and the city. Heineken now has an annual golf tournament at Patriot’s Point, SC in his honor. Charleston Parks & Recreation Department has a Little League team in his honor called “Brian’s Kids.”
He is missed so very much by his family, friends, coworkers, and especially by me. He called every day from where ever he was. He made us all so proud of his accomplishments and the impression he left on so many people in such a short life.
We hope the people who got his corneas will be able to see the beauty, colors and love he had in his heart.
Carolyn Jordan, Mother
