Alyssa Letic-Danielle Johnson

Sister Alyssa Letic-Danielle Johnson began her earthly sojourn on August 8, 1990 in Phoenix, Arizona, when she was born to the matrimonial union of Bishop Charles Ray Johnson and Evangelist Jan Corine Johnson. She was a bright little child, and she enjoyed the delight and curiosity of childhood.

Alyssa valued learning, and from a child, she understood the importance of receiving her formal education for grades kindergarten through eighth in the Roosevelt School District, graduating from the mighty Maxine O. Bush School. She later graduated from the renowned, celebrated, and famed South Mountain High School where she studied in the Communications Magnet Program. In this program, she gained experience in broadcasting and the role of a news anchor. Alyssa also enjoyed meteorology and learning languages. She spoke Spanish fluently and even knew Italian and sign language. She was fascinated by Pokémon as were many children, and she even spoke some Japanese, one of the native languages for this show. Following her secondary education, Alyssa obtained her Associate’s Degree in Music at Phoenix College and completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Geography at Arizona State University. Later, she pursued her Master’s Degree in Geographic Information Systems at University of Arizona.

Alyssa loved serving the Lord. She dared to be different! She was born into a heritage of Holiness and was bequeathed an Apostolic pedigree that emanated from her maternal great-great grandmother, Mother Lillie Brown of Texas, spanning five generations. Alyssa was a lifetime member of the Free Church of God in Christ in Jesus’ Name, Inc. in which she was blessed to be a proud descendent of a legacy of leadership. Her maternal great grandparents, the late Deacon Charlie and Pastor Lula Anderson, were Founders of the Free Church in the state of Arizona, pioneering the work in Casa Grande and in Phoenix. As a child, she believed the Gospel and was baptized in the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ by her father. She was blessed and privileged to sit under the teaching and anointed ministry of her maternal grandmother, Elect Lady Toni Johnson, General Supervisor of the National Women’s Department of the Free Church, and was taught from her childhood what it means to become a True Woman of God. Alyssa received her seal, the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Growing up, Alyssa was active in all the youth ministries of the Phoenix Free Church, starting with the Sunshine Band, and was an avid and visible participant in the Young People Christian Workers. She loved to sing and play music. She enjoyed traveling to different cities for church convocations, and she loved playing Scripture Scramble and Name Chain with the other youth of the church. As a child, she sang with her cousin, Jon-Jon, her brother, Chas, and the other youth at the church in concerts. She was a soprano in the Combined Choir of Arizona, a drummer, and a keyboardist. Her father recounts how the Lord blessed Alyssa to teach herself to play the guitar and horn. When her grandmother, Supervisor Johnson (the Mother of Musicians), came to their home, Alyssa would accompany her on the guitar! What a feat!!!!

Alyssa labored in many capacities and was a “right hand” to her father, Bishop Charles Ray Johnson, the pastor of the Free Church in Phoenix. She was the Assistant President of the Young Women’s Department and the Sabbath School Secretary, both at the Free Church in Phoenix. She taught the young people in their Sabbath School class. If you called on Alyssa, she would help with her humble spirit.

Alyssa loved music. She often sang, “It Remains to Be Seen,” by the Mississippi Mass Choir. She brought the Phoenix and Casa Grande churches into the new age with a podcast, Free Church AZ Ministries, which consisted of sermons and songs from the various church services. She had her own online platform as a radio host on GospelLift where she interviewed local gospel artists. She often had Facebook parties where she arranged a playlist and videos from various gospel artists and invited others to join.

Alyssa became an elementary school teacher and served as an educator in the Roosevelt School District, the same district that she attended as a child, and the Murphy School District in Phoenix. She also taught at the George Gervin Prep Academy in Phoenix. She was an active participant in Red for Ed, a National Education Association movement for increased education funding.

Alyssa loved her family, especially her parents, brother, Chas, sister, Sheneatra, her nephews, Chas, Jr. and Dayton, and her nieces, MaKenzie and MaKaylah. As a child, she relished spending time with her brother playing computer games. She enjoyed having conversations with her sister and teaching her nephew how to sing. She was the person in the family who handled the technology by configuring devices and smartphones.

She loved cooking and traveling. Her favorite type of food was Mexican food. She would often just decide to take a road trip to Tucson to get away and explore.

One of the last songs that Alyssa sang in a church service was, “The Devil Thought He Had Me, But I Got Away.” She was also learning a song titled, “I Can See the Victory.” The Lord Jesus saved Alyssa, and she was in his will. Truly, she did get away to the safe and loving arms of Jesus where there is no more crying, heart ache, or pain. She received the victory, and God knew what was best! We that are saved will see Alyssa on the other side!

Alyssa leaves to celebrate her homegoing and await her resurrection: her beloved parents, Charles and Jan Johnson; her brother, Chas; her sister, Sheneatra; her nephews, Chas, Jr. and Dayton; and her nieces, MaKenzie and MaKaylah. She leaves to cherish her memories, her grandmothers, General Supervisor Toni L. Johnson and Wilma Austin, and a great multitude of special uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, co-workers, and her beloved Free Church family.