Cleo Wilma Johnson

Cleo Wilma Johnson went to sleep Sunday night in the treehouse apartment she shared with her daughter Gypsy in Clayton, GA. She woke up on June 25th in Heaven. She had been 92 years old for ten days (June 15, 1926—June 25, 2018). The highlight of her birthday this year was a night out with “the girls” that included wine, chocolate cake, gifts of sparkly accessories and lots of laughter. It was a gradual downhill trip from there.

She was known as Cleo to her family and as “CJ” to many of her friends. Her grandchildren, great grandchildren and I called her Suggy. Still, in thinking about what my mother was called, another “name” comes to mind: Sweet. People could not say her name without commenting about her sweet nature. She was the kind of human being that got along with everyone; never meeting a person she didn’t like. The feeling was mutual. People always took an instant liking to her gentle spirit. I never heard her speak a single ill word about another person.

She enjoyed going out to see people she knew. Cleo loved music. Earlier in her life, she had so much fun dancing to music…anywhere she heard it. She found joy in decorating, painting, dressing up every day (in costume if the occasion called for it) and going to the Senior Center for lunch & exercise. She always had the infectious giggle of young girl; bringing smiles and laughs to those around her.

Cleo was born in Sarasota, living most of her life on the Gulf Coast of Florida. She was the owner of two businesses in Sarasota. The first was a beauty salon she opened in Fruitville during the early 1950s after graduating from beauty college in Tampa. When her marriage to Merle Alderman required a move, she let her salon go to begin a life in Tampa. During the 1970s Cleo returned to Sarasota where she designed and built her own home. She bought a dry cleaning business that she ran until her retirement.

Clayton, GA became her home for the last 15 years. Enjoying the mountains and people there, she never stopped missing her family and friends in Sarasota. During the past few months, she spoke often of wanting to take a trip back home. One of the things bothering her the most was not having the stamina to travel. Even getting out to visit her friends in Clayton became more difficult in this past year. More recently, she was becoming very weary and losing patience of never regaining her full strength following shoulder surgery and a long bout with the flu over the Christmas holidays.

It was heartbreaking to realize that shortly after her birthday, I stopped hearing her say, “I bet I’m going to feel better tomorrow”. The two days before she left this earth were particularly exhausting to her. Those of us that loved her most need to take heart now in knowing that the next time she woke up all of that tiredness and discomfort in the body that served her here for 92 years was gone. She awoke to a new day, finally feeling better.

Cleo’s final resting place will at home in Sarasota. She'll be placed next to her parents, Robert Lee and Wilma Rawls Johnson. She is survived by her daughter Gypsy Alderman of Clayton, son Vic Alderman, his wife Sarah and her grandson Deacon (Pennsylvania), her daughter Julie Alderman (Washington), granddaughter Morgana Alderman (Oregon), granddaughter Jana Hayden (Washington), grandson Chancellor Hayden, wife Shelly and great grandson Hollis (Oregon), her granddaughter Bray Hayden, husband Shawn and great grandson Beckett (Washington), her sister Mae Hurley (Clayton and Sarasota), sister Margie Horton (Sarasota), six nieces, & nephews and many great nieces & nephews.

Now that she’s crossed over, her family and friends take comfort in knowing that her old vim and vigor have returned to her. She’s in the arms of God, and surrounded by and the family and friends that got to Heaven before her. I’m betting that she’s got her dancin’ shoes back on.

Funeral services will be held in Palms Funeral Home at 2:00 on Saturday, July 7th in Sarasota, FL. Flowers and cards may be sent to Palms Funeral and Memorial Park, 170 Honore Ave, Sarasota, Florida 34232.