Mrs. Gentra Lee (Holmes) Johnson-Cooper was born on November 25, 1921 to late Earnest Hatchett and Rosie Lee Wallace in Industry, Texas. She attended school and church in Fayetteville, Texas. Gentra was raised by her Mother and Step Father, James “Tip” Holmes. She later married Emmitt Lee Johnson on November 26, 1938 in Fayetteville, Texas. The couple moved to Bartlett, Texas.
Mrs. Gentra Johnson united with Holy Temple Church of God in Christ in 1942 and was a faithful member, baptized by the late Elder Jones of San Antonio.
Mr. Emmitt Lee and Mrs. Gentra Lee Johnson were married for 37 years. Ten children were born to this union and one adopted son. Mrs. Gentra and her husband were entrepreneurs providing jobs for the young men in the community of Bartlett and the surrounding areas and kept them motivated and busy, for example; hay hauling, pulling cotton, and recycling. In her travels, she and her husband traveled to Chillicothe, Harlingen, Paducah, Raymondville and Robstown, Texas pulling cotton, meeting new friends and being exposed to different cultures.
Mrs. Johnson-Cooper found love again later in life and married Reverend B.B. Cooper in 1992. They were married for seven years until his death in Compton, California in 1999.
She is preceded in death by her first husband, Emmitt Lee Johnson Sr.; her eldest son, Emmitt Johnson Jr.; her second husband Reverend B.B. Cooper; father, James Holmes; stepmother, Annie L. Holmes; sister, Bernice Holmes; and brothers, Leon Holmes, Sam Holmes, Ernest Holmes, and Nick Holmes.
Mrs. Gentra Johnson-Cooper leaves to cherish her memories, six daughters, Willie B. Mix of Compton, California, Bernice (Reverend David) Longmiles of Fort Worth, Texas, Gentra Mae Riggins of Los Angeles, California, Ferry C. Nealy of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, Rosie (Gentry) Powell of Amarillo, Texas, Stella Crathers of Los Angeles, California, three sons, Reverend Eddie Johnson of Bartlett, Texas, Joe Johnson of Los Angeles, California, Tony (LaVern) Johnson of Bartlett, Texas, one adopted son, Ira “Byrd” Eugene (Christina) Crathers of Bartlett, Texas and the love of her life which are all of her 37 grandchildren, 64 great grandchildren, 14 great-great-grandchildren, two sisters, Mandy Holmes of Dickerson, Texas and Dorothy Holmes (Henry) Hubbard of Fayetteville, Texas, three brothers, Wilbert (Ester) Holmes of Dickerson, Texas, Edward “Todie” Holmes and Richard Holmes of Galveston, Texas, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.
Public Visitation will be held at Holy Temple Church of God in Christ on May 14, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00pm. Celebration of life services will be held at Holy Temple Church of God in Christ on May 15, 2018 at 11:00am. Interment will be at Bartlett City Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Condra Funeral Home in Taylor, Texas.
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