Born in Amherst County on November 8, 1944, she was the daughter of the late Reed Johns and Carrie Johns Branham. Ressie was a farmer for most of her life, a dedicated member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and a registered member of the Monacan Indian Nation.
Ressie is known to be a dedicated hard worker with a passion for taking care of everyone around her. To know her was to love her and she shared her love with people easily, as she never met a stranger. She was a purely good person and true to her roots down to the very end of her life. Ressie was always serving others and making sure everyone had something to eat when she was around.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her son, Roy Johns, Jr.; her daughter, Katherine Murphy; and her brother, Thomas Johns.
Ressie leaves behind her beloved children, Jason Johns (Belinda) of Amherst and Elizabeth Alease Martin (Billy) of Rustburg; five grandchildren, Brian, Melvin, Misty, Cheyenne and Brandon; and five great grandchildren, Nolan, Rayna, Christopher, Madison and Mason, who was her special little buddy.
A funeral celebrating her life will be held Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at Whitten Monelison Chapel with Minister Cynthia Branham officiating. Interment will follow at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Cemetery.
The family will accept friends on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Whitten Monelison Chapel.
A special thank you is extended to Brooke and Patty of Centra Hospice as well as all staff involved in Ressie’s care. The family also expresses their profound appreciation for the kindness and love shown to them in their time of need from the nursing staff at Bedford Memorial Hospital.
