Johnetta Virginia Johnson

Johnetta Virginia Spence Johnson was born January 3, 1945 in Elizabeth City, NC to the proud parents of Virginia Simpson Spence and John Thomas Spence. She transitioned from her earthly life in Raleigh, NC surrounded by her family with an abundance of love and support on September 25, 2021.

Johnetta loved the Lord first and foremost. He had a constant presence in her daily life which she centered all her principles and guidance around him. Johnetta was an avid churchgoer. She began her church life as a young girl, attending Sawyers Creek Baptist Church in Camden, NC and as a young adult attended Memorial A.M.E Zion Methodist church in Rochester, NY. Later, she retired her spiritual journey with Elevation Baptist Church, Knightdale, NC. Johnetta accepted Christ very early as the eldest of eight children. A role she delighted and took pride in. Her father, John, often referred to her as the “Alpha” among her siblings because of being the first born girl while her youngest sister was referred to as the “Omega” signifying the last born female child. Johnetta always provided assistance to her parents in raising her younger brothers and sisters through strict Christian guidance, tough love and never ending devotion to each of them. Johnetta excelled in her education as a graduate from P.W. Moore High School in Elizabeth City, NC and Saint Augustine University in Raleigh, NC where she received her Bachelors in Education. She further went on to achieve her Masters in Counseling at SUNY Brockport in Rochester, NY. After graduating from Saint Augustine’s University, Johnetta married her college friend Seabron Johnson Jr. where their union relocated them from Raleigh, NC to Piscataway, NJ and finally to Rochester, NY that later produced two daughters Valeda Johnson and Andrea Johnson.

Throughout the years of achieving her advanced education she had the opportunity to work in at least two Public School systems as a permanent Substitute Teacher in Piscataway, NJ and Rush-Henrietta, NY. She later acquired another position at Eastman Kodak Corporation where she worked as a Quality Assurance Specialist for many years prior to embarking on a Counseling career. Johnetta found her passion in the field of Counseling and was able to acquire great job opportunities from it. Her first position was at Monroe Community College in Henrietta, NY. Later Johnetta, obtained other opportunities through New York State Corrections at the following facilities, Groveland Correctional in Groveland, NY; Rochester Correctional in Rochester, NY and Arthur Kill Correctional in Staten Island, NY where she finally retired in Fall of 2007.

After completing her Counseling career, Johnetta, decided to live out her retirement in Raleigh, NC with her youngest daughter and granddaughter. There, she fully embraced her family and many new found friends that helped build a plethora of great memories and lasting relationships.

Johnetta was many things to many people as a devoted mother, wife, mentoring sister as well as a loyal friend. She was an extremely confident, intuitive, honest and witty individual known to many for her infamous greetings like, “Looking bad and smelling bad”, just to name a few. Her most undeniable trait was that of being God fearing, having great faith, being strong willed and a constant prayer warrior throughout her earthly life.

In the process of Johnetta transcending out of her earthly life, she is survived by her ex-husband, Seabron Johnson Jr.; daughters, Valeda Johnson and Andrea Johnson; granddaughter, Jasmine Wilson-Johnson; her sisters, Cutrophia Hueston, Carlotta Spence, and Felicia Brockington; brothers, Carlton Spence, Aaron Spence and Brian Spence; as well as a brother-in-law Cornell Brockington and a host of nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, October 3, 2021 at 2:00 pm in the Chapel of Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27612, with Pastor T. L. Carmichael, Sr., officiating. The family respectfully requests all in attendance to wear a facial covering or mask while at the service.

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