Gertrude Cottingham Johnson

Gertrude Cottingham Johnson of Garland, Texas peacefully went to be with our Lord and Savior on Sunday, December 30, 2012. Having been blessed with excellent health throughout the 94 years of her life until this past Fall, her body succumbed to the ravages of time: Parkinsons Disease, hip fracture, Dementia, and finally Pneumonia. Gertrude was a member of Calvary Baptist and First Baptist Church of Garland, Texas, and also a member of the Womens Auxiliary of the Gideons International. Gertrude was born in Dillon, South Carolina and her family also lived in Red Springs, Raeford and Fayetteville, North Carolina. She is survived by her youngest sibling Tracy Thomas Cottingham Jr. of Fayetteville. Her deceased siblings are: Thomas Cottingham (killed in WWI), Worth Cottingham of Dillon South Carolina, Ann Green of Sumter, South Carolina, Delia Shaw of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Ira Cottingham of Rockingham, North Carolina, and Bill Cottingham of Moorhead City, North Carolina. Charles Benjamin Johnson Jr. of Raeford, North Carolina and Gertrude were married in 1943 in Bennettsville, South Carolina. Their children are: Charles Thomas Johnson and wife Sharon of Rock Hill, South Carolina, Beverly Johnson Panasik and husband Carl of Garland Texas, and John Patrick Johnson and wife Anita of Midlothian, Virginia. Gertrude and Charles always considered the spouses of their children as their own. Their six grandchildren are: Daniel Johnson of Lexington, South Carolina, Bradley Johnson and wife Monica of Stanton, Virginia, Katherine Johnson Bishop and husband Chris of Richmond, Virginia, Kristin Panasik Butler and husband Matthew of Dallas, Texas, Alison Panasik of Fort Worth, Texas, and Ryan Panasik of Garland, Texas. Their four great grandchildren are: Benjamin Johnson of Lexington, South Carolina, Everett and Pyper Johnson of Staunton, Virginia, and Barrett Butler of Dallas, Texas. Gertrude affectionately loved all her brothers and sisters and extended family and enjoyed visiting and communicating with them. Gertrude frequently spoke fondly about her many nieces and nephews. Gertrude and Charles lived in Fayetteville and Wilmington, North Carolina, Arlington, Virginia, and West Columbia, South Carolina, until Charles death in 1997 after which Gertrude moved to Garland, Texas, to live with her daughter Beverly Johnson Panasik and husband Carl and their three daughters Kristin, Alison and Ryan. Throughout her life Gertrude was a homemaker, always loving, serving and providing a home of refuge for her husband and children. Her children can never remember missing a meal or not having a warm bed to sleep in. Gertrude was a very gentle person, always being loving and kind, forgiving and understanding, and considerate of her neighbors. Gertrude and Charles lived their lives in an exemplary manner as "All-American" parents, showing their children how to: love and honor parents and elders, love their families, love and respect others, serve their country, and to seek, know and follow God and his teachings. In the physical world a Mom, Dad, Grandparents and friend have been lost, but in the spiritual world they will eternally always be with their family and those who know her. Within the heart and soul of their children, grandchildren, and friends, is an unforgettable legacy which will always be realized, and which will always continue to shape and mold their very being and spirit. We thank you God for these parents that you have so graciously allowed for us to have and we now commend them back to you. Memorials may be made to the Gideons at https://www.gideons.org/expressions/MemorialBibleCardsDetail_OC.aspx?PPGID=1&PGID=33&PID=55&PT=KJV.