Erma H. Johnson

Erma H. Johnson departed this earthly life on February 28, 2019. She was the youngest daughter born to Luella M. (Stanley) and James Edward Hardiman on April 24, 1917 in Gibson County, Indiana. Erma was the last survivor of the family, at the age of 101.

Erma spent her childhood, teen age, and young adult life on the family farm located near the Lyles Station Community in Gibson County. It was here she learned the value of work, self-reliance, how to steer a straight course in life, and many of her positive qualities were enhanced by her parents and grade school teachers whom she dearly loved, respected, listened to, obeyed and never, never let them down.

Erma attended the Lyles Consolidated Grade School and graduated from Lincoln High School, in Princeton, Indiana (1933) at age 16.

During the Great Depression and as a depression era teenager growing up in tight circumstances, Erma never gave up dreaming of going to college. She enrolled and continued her academic career at Indiana State Teachers College (currently known as Indiana State University) Terre Haute, Indiana where she earned a BS and MS Degrees of Science in Education.

At an early childhood age she joined and grew up building a good Christian foundation in the Wayman Chapel AME Church Lyles Station, Indiana. As a young adult she worked with the children in Sunday school, church and community activities.

Serving her country during the Korean War (1950-53). Erma packed bullets for 1 year at the Chrysler Plant in Evansville, Indiana for our American Troops engaged in helping the South Koreans.

Her first teaching assignments were Inman, South Carolina for 1 year and Elkhart, Indiana for 1 year. The high light of her teaching career was the four years she taught at the Lyles Consolidated School with her grade school (teacher & principal). His long successful teaching career, supervision, guidance and advice, helped to prepare her for 41 years as a public school teacher, 35 of those years in the IPS system. After helping to integrate IPS School #109 (1981) she retired.

After establishing her home in Indianapolis, she joined and became an active member of Greater Bethel AME Church for many years with her husband and young son. Later, in life seeking a church closer to home and to be with her only sister, she became a member of Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church. She was an active member of the Missionary Society, attended Sunday school and church services as long as her health permitted.

Erma was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker, maintaining her home all alone as a widow since (2003). She loved working in her yard, beautiful flower beds, cooking, baking, piecing and hand quilting, and doing needle work.

She was preceded in death by her husband Harold of 57 years and son Juan, parents, 6 brothers and 3 sisters. Left to cherish her memory are 5 grandchildren, Juan D. (Tina) Johnson, Lori M. Johnson, Marlon R (Diana) Johnson, Brock (Ellie) Johnson, Cassie JoAnn Johnson, 9 great-grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren, 1 cousin, Norma John of Detroit, Michigan, 12 nieces and nephews and friends.