Mary Johnson

On November 12, 1922, one of God’s little miracles came into the world. Mary Ellen Newkirk was born to Rebecca and Joe Newkirk in Sunflower, Miss. Originally, she was named simply Ellen. She was one of ten children, seven girls and three boys. She was the ninth child.

She gave her life to God at an early age and was baptized at her family church in 1935. And so began a spiritual journey that would last her entire lifetime. She discovered that she was born to serve the Lord and she made service her life’s goal.

She married Joe Friley in 1942 and the couple relocated to East Chicago, Indiana in the 1950s. At which time, her skills as an excellent manager of money and time, after years of working on the family farm, were noticed by her Spouse and others. If she had continued her education, she would have been a great accountant. Later, she joined Mount Harmon Baptist Church in East Chicago where she served on the Nurses Guild.

The couple had two beautiful girls, Melonie and Cherrie Kim. Her family was everything to her. She delighted in praising God, raising her girls, cooking family meals and taking care of the household. She had a green thumb and loved gardening; growing both vegetables and flowers. Her home was full of green plants and the yard was always pretty.

Misfortune struck the family in 1963 due to the untimely passing of Joe, changing their lives forever. She moved her girls to Gary, Indiana in 1968, where she continued her spiritual walk by joining New Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. She continued to raise her girls in a Christian home, teaching them Godly values and morals. She believed in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

In 1994, she married Richard Johnson, who was a loving, caring pillar of strength in her life. He treated her children as his own and helped provide a wonderful home for the family. Richard passed on, leaving her to continue her life in Christ. To know her was to know that she loved the Lord!

She lived her life of total service to God, practicing her Christian faith in her everyday life. She believed in helping others, especially the less fortunate. She felt it was her duty as a Christian to make life better for others. Serving God and serving others was the hallmark of her life.

She never met a stranger and was kind-hearted. She was loving and giving to everyone she met. She generously shared her wisdom with others, using old-fashioned mother wit and Godly principles. She loved talking with young people who would seek her advice and wise counsel. They adored her for her kindness, guidance and words of wisdom.

She remained a faithful Christian and servant throughout her life, serving God for more than 80 years, not only talking the spiritual talk, but walking a spiritual walk. She attended Sunday School, Morning Worship, Prayer Meeting and Bible Study on a weekly basis, until her health no longer allowed her to do so. She was a long-time church mother, beloved by all. On July 8, 2015, God called her to her eternal resting place.

She was preceded in death by her parents Joe and Rebecca Newkirk; husbands Joe Friley and Richard Johnson; brothers Johnson, William and Booker T. Newkirk; sisters Louise Scott, May Frances Gathers, Annie Belle Wiggins, Alice Hallis and Mary Jane Newkirk; and grandson Corey A. House.

She leaves to cherish her daughters, Melonie (Freddie B.) Dixon, Cherrie (Joseph) Austin; one sister, Josephine Cherry; grandson Anthony S House (Shannon); granddaughter Shaina House Sparks (Melvin Sparks); great grandson Corey S. House; great granddaughter Liyah House; Godson William Joyner; Goddaughters Serita Tatum and Phyllis Banks; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.