Rennie Bledsoe Johnson

Rennie Bledsoe Johnson of Youngsville, NC, passed away peacefully at WakeMed North on April 11, 2025, at the age of 87 with her husband and daughter by her side. She was born on February 9, 1938 in Durham, NC where she grew up in the Leesville Road community.

Rennie graduated from Oak Grove High School in Durham in 1956. She then began her career at Southern Bell as a teenage switchboard operator, eventually retiring from AT&T as the Raleigh Business Office Manager. In 1957, she married Ed Johnson, and Sherry was born in 1959. A sharp business woman, Rennie was also the original co-owner with Ed of SER J’s MHP. As Ed likes to say, she ran it, he just dug the postholes.

She had a favorite son-in-law, Floyd, and didn’t care who knew it (he was also her only son-in-law). Rennie was a loving mother and grandmother while working full time while also running a business. She was a testament to work ethic, independence, the prudence of two-income households, and females not being less than.

Ed and Rennie enjoyed the first 10 years of their retirement in their log home in Swansboro, NC, before returning to the Triangle area. They settled in Youngsville where Rennie lived the rest of her full life.

She is preceded in death by her parents Henry Bledsoe and Doris Sorrell Bledsoe; brother Harold and sister-in-law Peggy; sister Marlene Ross and brother-in-law Buck; brother Doug and former sister-in-law Dot.

Rennie is survived by her husband of 67 years, Ed Johnson; daughter, Sherry Johnson; son-in-law, Floyd Smith; and brother, Norman Bledsoe (Maria). She is also survived by her granddaughter Sandy (Brandon), four great-grandchildren (Cole, Avery, Ben, Brandon Jr.), and three generations of nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to Norman who faithfully called Rennie weekly from California, to special friends and travel buddies Gerald & Sarah for their many years of companionship, to caring and attentive neighbors Chris & Michele who are like family; and to Neighbor Steve who has always been only a text or call away.

A visitation for Rennie was held Thursday, April 24, 2025 in the Chapel of Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27612. A funeral service followed. A graveside prayer service occured at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7501 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, immediately following the funeral.

Masks are required for the visitation and indoor service. There will be elderly in attendance as well as family members with serious medical conditions. If unable or unwilling to wear a mask, please do not plan to attend. The family also asks that no children under age 12 attend. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

If inclined to make a donation in Rennie’s memory, please consider Charlotte ToolBank (2513 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28203 https://charlotte.toolbank.org/ ) and designate “rebuilding of Western NC”.

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