Debbie Johnson Funeral

Obituary

Mrs. Johnson was born October 10, 1954 and went home on December 22, 2020. She is preceded in death by her father, William “Boots” Howard, mother, Frances “NaNa” Howard, spouse, Jack Johnson, and daughter, Johnnie Bussey.

She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer “JR” Rollins (Don), sister, Alice Howard, brother, David Howard (Jeanette), grandchildren; Catie Turner, Cody Turner, Trey Rollins, McKenzie Jacks (“Boyfriend”), Justin Rollins (Jannie), Cat Hayden (Hank), Chris Bussey (Mandy), Linda Ellis (Jay), great grandchildren; Haley, Alyssa, Chase, Nathan, Madison, Riley, Gavin, nieces; Niki, Katelyn, Carley, nephews; Mason, Jon and a host of extended family and friends.

Reflection

Debbie Johnson was a member of DeArmanville Methodist Church.

She loved being around kids and worked in child care most of her adult life.

She and her stepdaughter (but for her there was no step anything...it was just daughter) Jonnie loved doing crafts together. The two of them could turn household items into treasures. Jonnie preceded her in death. She always wanted to be laid to rest next to her and today the family insured that wish was granted. Debbie will be to Jonnie's right.

At Christmas she had dozens of little houses that Jonnie and her started collecting...many they hand painted. She turned her living room into a winter wonderland for the kids to enjoy 2 months out of the year.

Debbie loved AL and Oxford football. She loved giving the Auburn fans in the family a hard time especially her Daughter Jennifer and baby brother David during the iron bowl. She would get up and dance in front of the tv every time AL scored. Next she would be ringing David's phone making sure he didn't miss any Al score. As soon as the game ended she would start making crying towels to give the Auburn fans at Christmas. (She was laid to rest in crimson tide clothing today...nothing else would be fitting).

She loved kids. Any kids but especially her grandkids, great grandkids, nieces, nephews. She would ask for hobby lobby gift cards for every occasion so she could but craft supplies to hand make Christmas, birthday, graduation, etc. Gifts. If you got something from Debbie it was likely made by hand and with love.

Capturing the family and friends in scrapbooks became her passion. She would spend hours, weeks, months ensuring memories would never be lost or forgotten. The family has dozens of scrapbooks to cherish. From births to graduations, weddings, birthdays, she captured every event and added her creativety.

4th of July was her holiday. She helped the kids decorate bikes for the kids parade at Oxford lake. Every year without fail they would bring back ribbons to show her and she treated each one like a gold medal.

She lived a simple life choosing to meet others needs ahead of her own. She loved lighthouses and most of her jewelry were butterflies of some kind. But above all earthly treasures was her love for her family and friends.

She truly had a servants heart.

Sermon

Psalm 46:1–3 CSB

1 God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. 2 Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas, 3 though its water roars and foams and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah

Turmoil and Mourning

The Psalmist speaks of the Difficulties of life by relating them to the elemental storms that have brought destruction and chaos for centuries

2b - though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas,

Psalm 46:3 CSB

3 though its water roars and foams and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah

This year has been filled with turmoil. With pain, and with confusion, and now we mourn the loss of this precious soul. But we are encouraged by the words of the Psalmist and of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15.

Hope

Psalm 46:1–2 CSB

1 God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. 2 Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas,

We find comfort knowing that we have a safe place to run whenever the storms roll in. And if we have surrendered our lives completely to following Jesus.Whenever we are faced with the end our time on this earth we can say:

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 CSB

55 Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

So We find comfort, Hope, and Peace this afternoon in the Beautiful Poem written by Margaret Powers

One night I dreamed a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. "Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you Never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you."

On Behalf of the Family, I thank you all for coming. Your continued Support and Prayers will be needed and appreciated. Let us enter into a time of prayer, and we will be dismissed.

Pray