Rosemary Johnson

Rosemary Johnson was born in Saint Louis, Missouri on September 2, 1930, to Amos Bonner and Helen Williams.

She was raised by her grandmother, Melinda Lewis, until her passing when Rosemary was approximately 9 years old.

From that point on, Rosemary began caring for herself while also caring for her father, who was disabled from an injury when a car fell on him early in his auto mechanic career.

Though she never had a mother figure to care for her, she became a devoted mother to Ricky Johnson (wife Jane Johnson) and Arlette Johnson. She was the loving grandmother of Leroy Johnson (Latonya Crumble), Arbree Lemon, Katrina Johnson, Jamal Johnson, and Ahkeem Johnson.

Her legacy continued through her great-grandchildren: India Johnson, Isaiah Johnson, Bryce Nalls, TraShawn Shelly, Jaleesa Web, Cynthia Johnson, Frank Johnson, Corey Johnson, Madison Johnson, Donovan Johnson, Dierra Sanders, and Avery Smith (with whom she created a special bond while listening to him sing one of her favorite songs, “Can’t Give Up Now” by Mary Mary. It is to him that she passed her gift of storytelling. He uses this gift to spread the love of God through the children’s ministry at church.)

She was also blessed with great-great-grandchildren, including John “Lil John” Sanders, along with a multitude of others born to her great-grandchildren. Rosemary’s brothers, Amos Bonner Jr. and Ernest Bonner, preceded her in death, as did her parents.

She worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse, having studied under Eva B. Dykes—one of the first three Black American women to earn a PhD.

Rosemary served faithfully at Chicago’s Cook County Hospital’s thoracic surgery ward – R3 in the 1960s and 1970s. Later, in the state of Michigan, she served as a private duty nurse until her retirement in her early 80s. She lived in Berrien Springs, Michigan for 30 years, until she moved with her son, Ricky Johnson in July 2025.

Known for her extraordinary compassion, she often cared for patients that others could not manage, always crediting God for her success. At the age of eight, Rosemary read the Bible, learned about the Sabbath, and left the Baptist church in search of a congregation that worshiped on Saturday.

She found a home in the Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church in Saint Louis, Missouri where she was financially assisted by the congregation to attend Oakwood College. While there, she earned straight “A”s in Biology, Chemistry, Science, Math and English. All of which she completed during the same term.

She later moved to Chicago to earn money for school. There, she became a faithful member of the Seventh Day Adventist church, where she led Vacation Bible School, arts and crafts programs, and ministered to children with her storytelling gift. A gifted gardener and believer in natural remedies, Rosemary promoted healthy living through diet, exercise, and natural treatments.

Even when she could no longer maintain an outdoor garden, she created an indoor one. She praised God daily—whether with her family, especially her grandchildren Leroy and Arbree, or in her garden. Rosemary used her own resources to distribute books to share God’s word and the health message of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She named this evangelism “Personal Ministries.”

Though her family wished she would live to 100, they rejoice in the nearly 95 years they shared with her, grateful for the countless health challenges God allowed her to overcome. Her favorite sayings were:

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest, until your good is better and your better is best.”

“Well, that’s THAT!”

“I’m too old a cat, to be fooled by a kitten.”

Thank you very much! Have a nice day!”

“One mother can take care of ten children, but ten children can’t take care of one mother.”

“I’ve known you since Hector was a pup, and he’s a big dog now.”

Regarding food cooked by Arbree: “This must be good FOR me, cause this aint good TO me!”

When asked how she’s doing (no matter what health ailments she had): “I’m doing the best I can, for as long as I can”.

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