Willie Mae Craven Johnson

Willie Mae Craven Johnson

Birth Date: August 23, 1923

Spouse: Randle Johnson, Sr.

Sons: Randle Johnson, Jr (1941), Cecil Paul Johnson (1946), Julius “Tyrone” Johnson (1950), and Stan Johnson (1953)

Daughters: Sandra Jean Johnson Edwards (1943), Millie Ree Johnson Brown (1948), Bridget Johnson Buford (1957), and Detra Johnson (1963)

Last Residence: Jonesville, LA

Death Date: June 25, 2002

Willie Mae Craven Johnson was known for her big rim glasses. She was also known as the “best cook”. Specifically known for her sweet potato pie, purple hull peas, peach dumplings and chilli beans). She died on the same day as her brother Sam Craven (4 years later).

She was married to Randle Johnson, Sr. and the couple lived in Jonesville, LA.

Descendants:

Randle Johnson, Jr (10/6/1941): Randles is the oldest child born to Willie Mae Craven Johnson. He married Retha and lived in Oakland, CA. He was known to as “Dusty” in CA and known as “RJ” in Louisiana. He was extremely close to his younger brother, Cecil Paul. He is the oldest living grandchild of “Big Daddy and Big Momma”. He married Retha Johnson and in this union they had two daughters – Dinah Johnson Mims (1964) and Vivian Johnson Crenshaw (1968).

Sandra Jean Edwards (1943): Sandra attended Grambling State University. A known fact is that she dated Buch Buchanon while at Grambling whom later became a NFL Hall of Famer. She also named many of her nieces and nephews including Marcel and Alonya Buford. She is the eldest daughter of Willie Mae Craven Johnson. She lived in Gary, IN and was always very close to Jessie Mae. Sandra Jean is survived by her two sons, Gregory Edwards (1969) and Markus Edwards (1979), and her two daughters, Shawana Johnson (1963) and Danielle Edwards (1970).

Cecil Paul Johnson (1946): Cecil was a star basketball player. He lived in Oakland, CA and was active in bowling leagues around the Bay area. He had a sweet tooth and loved to play dominoes. He also enjoyed watching Price is Right and had a very close relationship with his older brother, Dusty. Cecil did not have any children.

Millie Ree Johnson Brown (4/16/1948): She lived in Oakland, CA and loved the city life. On her last visit to Jonesville she said that she “will never go back to Jonesville until there is grass growing in the middle of Main St., chickens talking and pigs flying.” She married Willie Brown. In this union they had two sons – Roderick Johnson (1965) and Cedric Brown (1977).

Julius Tyrone Johnson (6/8/1951): “JT” moved to CA in 1968 and worked in management at the US Postal Service for 37 years. Post-retirement he returned to Jonesville, LA. JT has three children – two sons: Tyrone Johnson (1971) and Deon Johnson (1977) and a step daughter: Lisa.

Stan Johnson (1/24/1953): Stan graduated from Grambling State University. He lived in several countries (England, Honduras & Panama). He worked as a civilian employee for the US Government for 30+ years. He shares his birthday with his younger sister, Detra Johnson. Stan was born January 24, 1953. He is married to Barbara Johnson and within this union they have three children – one son, Godwin Johnson (1970) and two daughters, Bianca Johnson (1982) and Brandi Johnson (1985).

Bridget Johnson Buford (11/9/1957): Bridget was known as the center core of the Johnson family. She loved to cook and was an excellent cook. She married her life partner, Alonzo Buford, at the age of 19. Within this union they had two sons, Marcell Buford (1978) and Bran Buford (1985) and their daughter, Alonya Buford (1981).

Detra Johnson (1/24/1963): Detra was born on the same day as her older brother Stan (10 years later). She is 11 months older than her niece, Shawana Johnson. She attended Grambling State University. She is the youngest living grandchild of “Big Daddy and Big Momma”. She lives in Jonesville, LA as a Case Manager Supervisor for elder care. She has two daughters, Andrea Johnson (1986) and Charla Jones (1994).