Mary Jane Johnson

Gretna - Mary Jane Johnson, age 80, formerly of Gretna and Lynchburg, died Monday, June 21, 2010 in Hickory, NC.
Born August 28, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Earlie Johnson, Sr. and Nora Kathaleen Falwell Johnson. Mrs. Johnson was predeceased by her loving husband of 60 years, Earl W. Johnson, son-in-law, Phillip W. Reynolds, brother, Earlie Johnson, Jr. and two sisters, Hilda J. Torrence and Shirley J. Tatro. She was a 1947 graduate of E. C. Glass High School in Lynchburg, where she excelled athletically. She was employed by the Credit Bureau in Lynchburg until 1954 and was a homemaker and substitute teacher thereafter. Her passion was working with children, particularly those with learning disabilities, in the Pittsylvania County School system. Mrs. Johnson also led the Boy Scouts of America program in Gretna and was active in the American Legion there. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Gretna where she served on the Deacon Board and was extremely active in the many women and children's programs. She enjoyed Senior League bowling where she maintained an average above 200. After his retirement, she enjoyed spending time with her husband, Earl, and their travels in the US, Canada and Europe and their visits with their children and grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by her family, her friends in Virginia that so faithfully stayed in touch and her many caregivers in North Carolina over the past ten years.
She is survived by a daughter, Belinda J. Reynolds of Hickory, NC; a son, Timothy E. Johnson of Richmond; five grandchildren, Michael B. Reynolds of Wrightsville Beach, NC and his fiancée, Jessica Emerson of New Bern, NC; A. Blake Reynolds, his wife Ashley and daughter Ashlynn of Hickory, NC; Bradford R. Johnson of Baltimore, MD; and T. Scott Johnson and Alexa K. Johnson both of Richmond.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 24, 2010 at First Baptist Church of Gretna by Rev. Jonathan Hilliard with a service to follow at 1:30 p.m. at the chapel at Fort Hill Memorial Park in Lynchburg.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Colbert-Moran Funeral Home in Gretna.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Mary Jane's favorite charity, the Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Plantation, P.O. Box 1398, Brookneal, VA 24528 or www.patrickhenry.org.
Colbert-Moran Funeral home, Gretna is in charge of arrangements.