Arie Johnson

Published 2:42 pm Friday, December 17, 2010

Funeral services for Arie Gilbert Johnson, 84, of Bainbridge, were held Sunday, Dec. 19, at Nelson Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church with the Rev. James A. Platt officiating.

Interment followed at Pine Grove Cemetery at Emanuel Missionary Baptist Church with Larry Carroll, Frank Chandler, Louis Freeman, Jimmy Sanders,, Michael Stanton and Jesse Wills acting as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Luther Conyers, Robert Jackson, Walter Rambeau, Paul Wilson and the deacons of First Flint River Missionary Baptist Association of churches.

Mrs. Johnson was born in 1916 and was reared in Titusville, Fla. She graduated from Beach High School in Savannah and did her undergraduate work at Georgia State College, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics. Following her graduation in 1940, she began a teaching career at West Bainbridge Elementary School and taught at several other schools in Decatur County for more than 41 years. She also served as choral director at West Bainbridge Elementary, Attapulgus Mount Moriah High and John Johnson Elementary schools.

She loved music and played the piano for several area churches. She was a member of Nelson Chapel AME Church.

Survivors include her husband, Wilbur Johnson Sr., of Bainbridge; a daughter, Susan Grace Johnson of East Point, Ga.; a son, Wilbur Johnson Jr. of Burke, Va.; two grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

Guyton Brothers was in charge of the arrangements.