Helen Williams Johnson

Helen Williams Johnson, 86, died Sunday, January 5, 2014. She was born October 19, 1927, in Selma, Arkansas, to Horace Lee Williams and Ella Mae Dalton Williams. After losing their farm during the Great Depression, her family moved back to Tennessee when she was 7, locating to Hardin Valley. She attended Karns High School, where she was a class beauty, and Knoxville High. She was the youngest of 11 children and the last surviving member of her generation. She was preceded in death by beloved husband of 54 years, Wilson B. (W.B.) Johnson; her parents; and sisters, Nora, Mary Ella, Ona, Amy, Pearl, and Mearl; and brothers, Levi, Lucien, John, and Arvile. She was a homemaker who was very active in her children’s school activities and her beloved church, Norwood Baptist, where she taught Sunday School until she was 85. She was a gifted seamstress, award-winning quilt-maker, and known for her benevolent nature. She is survived by daughters, Carol L. Johnson, Knoxville; E. Kaye Johnson (Ron Glass) Clinton; son, Dennis B. Johnson, Sr. (Diana), Maryville; grandchildren, Dennis B. Johnson, II, Tulsa, OK; Donna Johnson-Simerly (Colby), Maryville; great grandchildren, Seth, Samantha, and William Johnson and Natalie and Nathan Simerly as well as a host of friends, nieces, and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Norwood Baptist Church, Wilson Road, Knoxville or to the American Diabetes Association. Family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2014, at Mynatt Funeral Home Fountain City Chapel. Friends and family will meet 1:45pm Friday, January 10, 2014, at Greenwood Cemetery for 2:00 p.m. graveside service.