Our lovely Rose Mary Johnson was born on March 26, 1953 to Thomas Jasper Johnson, Sr. (Deceased) and Mary Smith Johnson at the Norfolk Naval Military Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. Shortly afterwards, our family moved and settled in New York and it was there where Rose was educated and lived the majority of her life. Rose married young and birthed three wonderful children: Herbert, Nicole, and Nakita. Fueled by her enormous zeal for life and her eclectic skills and abilities, Rose pursued various types of employment throughout her life but two of her main passions were “antiquing” and “cooking”. When the family moved to Virginia, Rose was a young Mother but remained in New York.

As time moved on, life’s challenges happened, as they do for many. Rose accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior as a young child and it was her trust in Him that allowed her to faithfully navigate those challenges (come what may) in her life. This trust was clearly evident for although life’s challenges included severe health issues that attempted to limit her, she never stopped dreaming and believing in the future and desiring to cook. On September 4, 2019, while preparing to transport her from the hospital to the hospice unit, the loving Pastor that was praying with her asked her after the prayer if she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Rose enthusiastically replied, “I SURE DO!” The very next evening of September 5, 2019, while surrounded by her family, Rose departed this life and entered into her eternal rest in Christ Jesus. Now, safe in HIS arms, she will stay; no more cold, cruel world. No more hurt or pain. Only peace and rest shall she forever know.

We shall remember Rose as we hold on to her laughter, her smile, her passion and remembering when we navigated the streets in Brooklyn, NY in elementary school. Rose holding her siblings’ hands as we crossed the busy streets. Embracing the times Rose used to try to learn to dance and teach us as she played the record player and attempted to swing us around as we listened to Daddy’s music in the basement in Queens. She pretty much raised us as a little girl, while our parents worked. As we hold on to the good memories, the tears come as grief but fall as joy because we know to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. So, rest in Love and Peace, our beloved Rose. You are safe now!

Rose is survived by her three children, Herbert Overton, Jr., Nicole Overton, and Nakita Tillman; mother, Mary Johnson; two sisters, Ramona Howard and Theresa Knight; two brothers, Thomas Johnson, Jr. (Cheryl) and Jerome Johnson (Michele); six grandchildren, Nico Johnson, TaQueesha Overton, Karl (KJ) Frazier, LaCherie Wilcox, Raechel Tillman, and Josiah Tillman; two great grandchildren, Ciidney Lewis and Cayden Washington; one uncle, Delbert Smith; two aunts, Madgie Smith and Mattie Smith; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. A special hug to one of Rose’s favorite cousins, Joyce Coleman.

Public viewing for Rose Johnson will be on Wednesday, September 11, 2019 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm at the J.L. Dodson and Sons Funeral Establishment.

A family visitation hour on Thursday, September 12, 2019 from 10:00am to 11:00am, followed by funeral service at 11:00am will be held at the Faith and Hope Temple Church of God In Christ, 1800 East Washington Street, Petersburg, Virginia 23803 with Bishop Herman Crockett, Officiating. Interment will follow in the Wilkerson Memorial Cemetery, 750 Page Street, Petersburg, Virginia 23803.

Professional funeral services have been entrusted to the staff of the J.L. Dodson and Sons Funeral Establishment, 25824 Greensville Avenue, Petersburg, Virginia 23803, Rev. Jeffrey L. Dodson, Sr., Funeral Director. (804) 732-5959. Online condolences may be registered at www.jldodsonandsons.com.  “Our Family Servicing Your Family”