Mary Elizabeth Johnson, known to family and friends as “Betty”, was born
in Prince Edward County, Virginia on May 3, 1938, to Clarence and Mary
Saunders Johnson. She entered eternal life from her residence in Pamplin,
Virginia, on Friday, November 29, 2024.
Betty was raised in Prospect, VA where she began her early childhood
education. She worked for Kitty Lou Restaurant in Prospect, VA before
relocating to New York, due to the closing of schools in Prince Edward
County. She relocated back to the Prospect area, where she was known
as “The Mother of Prospect” due to caring for most of the children in the
area. She joined First Rock Baptist Church at an early age, where she was
a faithful and active member. She served on the usher board for over 60
years, and often assisted ushering and attending service in churches in
surrounding counties.
Betty loved to entertain family and friends but most importantly she loved to
laugh and make others laugh. She was a loving spirit to all, and left a mark
on everyone she came in contact with.
She is preceded in death by: her parents, Clarence and Mary Johnson;
three sons, Vanada “Barney” Holliman, Andrew Louis Holliman and Gene
Holliman; three sisters, Violet, Rosa and Corrine and one brother, Harry;
and one God-daughter, Mattie Lyle.
Betty leaves to cherish her memories: one son, Raymond Johnson (Willie
Mae) of Pamplin, Va; one daughter, Patricia Holliman of Madison Heights,
VA; three grandchildren, Donielle Langhorne, Keil Braitwaite, and Tia
Johnson; four great-grandchildren, Daven, Kaitlin, Keil Jr., and Kelsey; one
brother, Theodore “Roosevelt” Johnson (Mary) of Prospect, VA, one
daughter-in-law, Alisa Holliman, one God-daughter, Judy Bizzell; five
devoted friends Mary Saunders, Rosa Scott, Lillian Abbott, Annie Mae
Jackson and Charlotte Eddins; and a host of nieces, nephews and many
friends.