Susie Johnson Spears

On March 25, 2018 at the age 95 an Angel summoned Susie and she surrendered this earthly journey. Now, she is at rest with her parents, George R. Johnson and Mary S. Johnson and paternal grandparents, Moses and Maranda Johnson and Maternal grandparents, William H. Starling and Lucy McLemore Starling. All ten of her Siblings: Corine Johnson Walker, W.H. Johnson, Robert Johnson, George Johnson Jr, Amos Johnson, Johnnie Johnson, Bernice Johnson Lewis, Lugene Johnson, Ollie Mae Johnson, Infant Baby Johnson and her Grandson, Jonathon Charles Whatley Jr.

Susie was the sixth of eleven children. Being the very first girl born to both parents, she was given the nickname “Sis” and it stuck, and she is fondly known by that name by those closest to her. Susie was raised in a seven-room house on a 96-acre farm. She was reared in a Christian home, where her mother was a Sunday School teacher and her Grandfather the Reverend W.H. Starling who was a noted Pioneer, educator and early Black Baptist Preacher. She attended the family church, the East Hollis Spring Baptist Church in Mount Enterprise, Texas as a young child. As a young woman Susie moved to Austin, Texas where she met Emmitt Spears during a date arrange by her older Sister, Corine Walker and the young couple were soon married. They purchased some property near a small creek just outside the City of Austin near one of Austin’s first Black churches, First Baptist Church on Heflin Lane. This is where they raised their family. Susie spent most of her adult life being a mother and caring for others. Her and her husband Emmitt worked many different jobs to provide for their growing family. Susie cooked and ironed clothes for others as well as worked side by side with her husband cutting yards and whatever job she could assisted with. Emmitt would often say of his wife “If I cut a tree down Mama will trim it up” When her youngest children were older, Susie went to work for Lacoste and Romberg Gravity Meters, Inc. where she retired after many years.

Susie loved to fish and sew. She often showed her love for others by making them gifts of the things she has made with her hands. Many quilts grace the beds of the people she loved. She loved to talk and laugh and took great pride in the life she built with her husband. She loved East Texas and spent many vacations and summers there and always refer to it as home. Susie was a member of the Sweet Home Baptist Church in Round Rock, Texas. Even with the decline in her health she would attend with her daughter Imogene as often as she could.

Susie will be missed but she leaves to cherish her love and memories, Her legacy is as follows:

Her Children:

Alvertis Record Sr, Mary Rogers (Keith), Emmitt Spears Jr (Connie), Imogene Spears-McEachin (Jimmy), Sharon Ellerby (Don), Sue Spear-Martin (L.C)

Her Grand-Children:

Marilyn Martin, Sharon Record, Alvertis Record Jr, Allie Ray Fisher, Termeral Jennings, Ola Scott, Andre K. Rogers, Brian Rogers, Candace Marie Rogers, Emmitt Spears III, Kimberly Spears, Jordon Spears, Natalee Fairley, Shawnta Miller, Tanisha Whatley, Charles Byrd, Dexter Bray, Anthony Gardner, Jasmin Gardner.

Her Great Grand-Children:

Darian Record, April Record, Simone Record, Tyshay Jarmon, Duston Martin, Kia Martin, Belinda Hannon, Jonathon Lee Hannon, Christopher Record, Devonte Scott, Trinity Scott, Evan Rogers, Matthew Rogers, Aerik Rogers, Maleah Rogers, Drew Loyal Rogers, Jalen Sutton, Ethan Spears, Aiden Spears, Sean Spears, Seth Spears, Laila Elaine Fairley, Naomi Rose Fairley, Demorea, Williams, Serenity Tucker, Mekai Frisby, Destiny Whatley, Sanai Fisher, Dexter Bray Jr., Marlei Bray, Dillion Bray, Ah’Layah Gardner, Brandon Evans, Amari Sulee Bolen, Charles Byrd Jr, Chaeli Byrd, Amaiya Colvin-Byrd, Andre Colvin-Byrd

Her-Great Great-Grand Children: Jaden Record, Keshawn Jarmon, Dre’sean Manning, Trae’shaun Manning, Zaylen Martin, Montray Martin, Lavante Record, Kayla Record, Christopher Record Jr., Lilly Hannon, Aviana Record and Armanie Bacio-Williams