Mary Ann Morgan

Mary was born on July 9, 1936, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the first daughter of Dewey Arshell Morgan and Uless Armwood. She was the fourth of 12 children.

Mary’s family migrated from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Los Angeles, California, in 1949. She graduated from David Starr Jordan High School in 1954.

Mary was industrious and sacrificed to support her family. While living in Oakland, California, after marriage, Mary and her two sons went door-to-door selling peanut butter brittle candy to neighbors. After her first marriage ended, Mary, as a single mother, moved back to Los Angeles to be near her family. She valued devotion to the Lord and educational opportunities in raising her two sons.

Mary worked at International Business Machines (IBM) in Los Angeles for 18 years and retired in 1987 as an Educational Coordinator. After taking a year’s break, she worked at the U.S. Naval Base – Pt. Mugu as a secretary for seven years and then transferred to the Department of the Army – Los Angeles District – Corps of Engineering, Military Section as a Branch Secretary for three years.

Mary served faithfully in her father’s church, Whole Truth Temple Church of God in Christ, in Los Angeles. One of her favorite annual trips was attending the Holy Convocation of the Church of God in Christ in Memphis, Tennessee.

Mary was famous for making sweet potato pies and selling them to customers in the greater Los Angeles area. One Thanksgiving, she baked, sold, and delivered 100 pies using the single oven in her two-bedroom apartment in Compton, California.

In October 2016, Mary relocated from Inglewood, California to Las Vegas, Nevada with her youngest sister, Naomi, and family. In February 2023, Mary moved to Phoenix, Arizona to be near her youngest son, Gregory and his wife, Linda.

Mary was preceded in death by her late husband, Clifton Johnson, parents, Dewey and Uless Morgan, and six siblings, Peter Morgan, Elizabeth Morgan, Dewey Morgan Jr., Martha Scoggins, John Morgan, and James Morgan.

Mary is survived by the following: two sons, John Cleveland (China) of Pompano Beach, FL, and Gregory Cleveland (Linda) of Phoenix, AZ; six grandchildren: John Cleveland of Naples, FL; Christena Cleveland of Minneapolis, MN; Desiree Cleveland of Tallahassee, FL; Christopher Cleveland of Quincy, MA; Corey Cleveland (Clio Flikkema) of Boston, MA; and Chandler Cleveland (Caris) of Pittsburgh, PA; one brother, Nathaniel Morgan of Los Angeles, CA; four sisters: Tabitha Gaines of Los Angeles, CA; Ruth McWilliams of Hesperia, CA; Sarah Hackett of Lynwood, CA; and Naomi Bashful (Ronald) of Las Vegas, NV; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to thank Grace Hill Assisted Living and Hospice of the Valley for the care and compassion they showed Mary in her final days.

A visitation for Mary will be held Tuesday, March 4, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary, 200 West Beardsley Road, Phoenix, AZ 85027. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, March 4, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, 200 West Beardsley Road, Phoenix, AZ 85027. A committal service will occur Tuesday, March 4, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM, 200 West Beardsley Road, Phoenix, AZ 85027.