Catherine Morris Johnson

A rose bloomed on October 29, 1941, in Hale County to Lucille Morris and John Henry Welch and this rose was named Catherine. She received her education in the Bessemer City Public School system, Birmingham Public School system, Jeff State Community College, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Being guided by Mrs. Hattie L. Moore, at the age of eleven, Catherine accepted Jesus as her personal Savior and was baptized by Pastor G. W. Slone. She served faithfully in her youth but strayed away as many people do. Later in life, she was drawn by the power that saved her and returned to Jesus who first loved her. Catherine made the decision to serve the Lord the rest of her days.

Catherine had a unique love for children. She showed a heartfelt love for those she met and greeted them with a smile. She would do anything she could to help those in need and set an example of the marks of a true servant in and out of church. As a faithful and committed member of the Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church She served as Teacher to Children's Class # 7, Directress to the Youth Department (Children Youth and Young Adults), Directress of the #2 Usher Board, SGMBC Drama Ministry, SGMBC Golden Age People Senior's Ministry, and the #2 Adult Choir. Catherine also served eight years on the Bessemer Board of Education, fifteen years on the Board of the Bessemer Public Library, fifteen years teaching at JCCEO Head Start and five years as a substitute teacher in the Bessemer City School System.

Catherine united in holy matrimony to Clarence E. Johnson. Like a modern-day Brady Bunch, they together were blessed to have ten children - one of whom (Glendie Faye {Leslie} Davis), preceded her in death. There is nothing like family - a family that prays together, stays together.

She leaves to cherish her memories: a loving, kind, and devoted husband, Clarence Johnson (whom she affectionately called, "Honey"); their children - William C. Harkins (Bessemer, AL), Netherland Johnson & Pastor Dr. Victor L. (LaKindra) Harkins, Sr., (Pleasant Grove, AL) and Dr. Meta Ann-Frances (David) Pressley (Lawrenceville, Georgia), Melinda Johnson (Bessemer, AL), Sandra Allen (Flint, Michigan), Pamela (Gary) Daniels (Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina), Vickie (Johnny) Williams and Derrick (Zeporia) Johnson (Flint, Michigan), four spiritually adopted children: Willie J. [preceded in death] (Pamela) Hicks, Sr., Steven (Wendy) Rudolph, a special daughter, Cheralynn (Darrius) Walker, twenty grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, one brother, Frank (Constance) Jones (Bessemer, AL), special cousin, Calvin Morris, the Shady Grove MBC Family and a host of other relatives and friends.