Mary Millett Johnson

June 30, 1924 ~ January 14, 2024
Born in:
San Marcos, TX
Resided in:
New Braunfels, TX
Mary M. Johnson was born in San Marcos, Texas on June 30, 1924 and was the tenth born of eleven children to the late Horace and Blanche Millett. She was raised in York Creek in San Marcos and at an early age attended school in San Marcos. The family later relocated to New Braunfels, TX. Mary received Christ at an early age. Mary worked a number of jobs before deciding to become a certified massage therapist for 50 years, owning her own business.
She met and united in marriage with Lee Johnson in the early 1950’s. During this marriage she became the owner of “Mary’s Reducing Salon” in New Braunfels with her husband in 1957. Mary was the first African American woman to open a business in New Braunfels and she had a wide variety of customers ranging from local physicians and multiple residents of the surrounding communities. She complimented her business responsibilities along with community commitment and maintained this successful business until her retirement in 2007.
She was the recipient of the MLK Achievement Award in 2019. Mary was a member of the Grand Court Order of Calanthe of Texas, which was one of the largest, oldest and most successful woman-run-fraternal insurance organizations, led and controlled by African American women providing business and professional training, employment and leadership for women.
She was also involved in a small group of diverse influential women called “The Circle of Friends.” This group met monthly to prepare and share meals, visit with the sick and the elderly while providing meaningful social interaction with members of the community. It was based on the establishment of friendships between people of the community.
The guiding force in Mary’s life was her involvement with her local church-the Church of Christ. Through her membership with the church she would do various missionary trips to Jamaica and Mexico. Mary became involved in community outreach which she continued to do up until her illness.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Blanche and Horace; brothers, Waymon, Eddie, Willie Ray and Jeff; sisters, Elsie, Josie, Lula Mae and Kathryn; grandson, Rodney J. Bellinger.
Mary leaves to cherish in her memory: son, Larry Bellinger (Melba) of Dallas, TX; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Chris Anthony (Alicia) and Steven Stanton of Dallas, TX; surviving sister, Ethel Ellison of San Francisco, California, along with nieces, nephews, additional relatives and a host of friends.
Services
Visitation: Friday, January 19, 2024 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Room: Chapel
Lux Funeral Home & Cremation Services
1254 Business 35 N.
New Braunfels, TX 78130
830.624.0500
https://www.luxfhcares.com/
Service: Saturday, January 20, 2024 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
New Braunfels Church of Christ
1665 IH Business 35 South
New Braunfels, TX 78130
830-624-0500
Graveside: Saturday, January 20, 2024 1:30 pm
Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park
2951 TX-46
New Braunfels, TX 78130
830.609.4906
Katie Stoker
Elvin & Jerline Bell and family
Mary was the kindest most genuine lady you would ever want to know. She helped so many without anyone ever knowing. My mom was struggling following the death of our dad, and Mary would walk over to mom at church and place those strong arms around and give her a hug….then she would slip a $20 bill in moms pocket. She did this many times, and the impact was something special. Thank you Mary for loving mom…I hope she greeted you at the heavenly door.
Peace and Comfort to the Family
Love and Prayers,
The Ervin Family
The Sutherland Family
God’s Blessings for Love and Comfort
To the Family.
The Ervin Family
The Sutherland Family
We are blessed to have met and know Ms. Mary when we moved to New Braunfels and became members of the New Braunfels Church of Christ. You will always be in our hearts. The Lord’s blessings and comfort for the family as Ms. Mary has received her reward!
Prayers to the family of Mary Millett Johnson. Mary was a very out spoken person in the community with a big smile every time you see her. I would always love being around her because of her kindness and good attitude. She will certainly be missed by all who knew.
God Bless her until we meet again.
May comfort be multiplied, to all of the family & friends, who did life with our precious Mary Johnson!
She was a dear friend of my mother, Sula Randel. My memories of her are fully the embodiment of God’s love and kindness toward us! It seemed she only sought to bless others.
I am so grateful to have known her, in my childhood years and to have felt the true presence of Jesus, in her presence!
I love you, sweet Mary! Savor the Savior throughout eternity!
Sharon Randel Turner from Montana
To the many friends and family that Mary leaves behind…we are all much better because of the sweet life of Mary Johnson! I have precious memories of many hugs from Mary when I needed them the most. You lived the life, talked the talk and walked the walk all of your life. Rest now, sweet Mary.
Amy Randel Cox from Colorado
Mrs.Johnson was a lovely kind women, would bring a smile to everyone’s faces at New Braunfels Veterinary Clinic.I had the pleasure of knowing her for the passed 2 years working there. She was one of my favorite faces to greet when she came in for her Dog Josephine, that pup was her best friend!
My heart was truly saddened when I heard of her passing. She will be greatly missed. Prayers to the Family.
Condolences to Larry and family. Aunt Mary was such a beautiful person inside and out. She leaves a legacy of love. Wishing you and family strength and peace. With deep sympathy
Clarence and Charlesetta Ball
Mobile, Alabama
The Virtuous Women (Proverbs 31) – When we read this very familiar passage about this special woman, it paints a picture of the woman we came to know as Mary Johnson. How incredibly blessed we have been to have had her as a part of our lives. When you first meet someone, you never know the exact impact that person will have on your life. When I first met Mary, when she and a group of other ladies joined our congregation, I could have never dreamed that she would become as important to me as she did. Here mere presence was an inspiration. As a song leader, I loved having her in the audience because you could see that she was someone who truly sang from her heart. She helped make songs come to life. As a person asked to lead a prayer, you couldn’t help but be spurred on in your praying because you knew she was praying right along with you. My absolute favorite thing, though, was teaching a Bible class with her in the audience. Whether she was throwing in an “amen”, or a “that’s right”, or making a full comment, or just sitting there and nodding her head, she helped to push the study to an even greater depth than might have been in the original plan, and she was never shy about giving out a compliment, and maybe even a little critique here and there along the way about how she felt the class went. I have been so blessed to have many of those experiences that I will cherish for the rest of my days. I got the chance to see Mary just a little over a week before she passed. While visiting with her, we were told that Mary was going home in two days, and I overheard one of the nurses going over the plans with Mary’s son for what Mary would need once she was back at her house. Little did we know that one week later she would make the real trip home…to the real home…to the home she spoke of so often and so longingly. She often said that if the Lord determined that it was her time that she was ready to go, and now she has made that journey. Thank you, Mary, for all that you have brought to all of us. Please know that your legacy lives on in our memories. You lived out Matthew 5:16 by letting God’s light shine through you in such a way that people saw your good works, and through them, glorified your Father in Heaven. We are better people for having had you in our lives. I love you so very much!
We shared a few stories and she sang jingle bells.
We prayed with her and we left with a joyous heart as she uplifted our spirits
I will miss you her on earth but will see you again in heaven!!
Rest in the arms of Jesus
Karen K Diver
Mary was an outstanding lady.
She had so much love for everyone she knew. She love to tell stories of her life growing up and had such admiration for all of her Christian family. She enjoyed food…..taco bell tacos and especially Gwen’s home cooked “fried fish, okra, and (Wow those hush puppies”) Mary was glowing with pleasure!
I Miss her Love for Our Lord
her smiles…she will always have a special place in my heart.
Cynthia Wilson Navarrete,
Dallas, Texas.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Sandra Mulkey