Opal Johnson Funeral Program

Page 1

You will always be You will always be

workforce, serving as a Chef in a local hotel. She became a skilled cook, and over the workforce, serving as a Chef in a local hotel. She became a skilled cook, and over the course of her life, she was well known for her delicious signature dishes. People are course of her life, she was well known for her delicious signature dishes. People are still coveting her Curry chicken and Potatoes, Pea Soup with Dumplings, Beef Patties, still coveting her Curry chicken and Potatoes, Pea Soup with Dumplings, Beef Patties, and her special American Chop Suey, made on Christmas Eve. and her special American Chop Suey, made on Christmas Eve.

By then, Opal was already the mother of two daughters, Grace and Celia, and it

By then, Opal was already the mother of two daughters, Grace and Celia, and it wouldn’t be long before she would set her sights on the States for a better life for wouldn’t be long before she would set her sights on the States for a better life for them. In 1962, at the age of twenty-two years old, she left the small Island of St. them. In 1962, at the age of twenty-two years old, she left the small Island of St. Thomas, and headed toward a much bigger pond, Boston, Massachusetts. There, her Thomas, and headed toward a much bigger pond, Boston, There, her friend Rita would find her work with Mr. Shorts, a Lawyer. She worked as a Live in friend Rita would find her work with Mr. Shorts, a Lawyer. She worked as a Live in Worker, caring for him and his family. Worker, caring for him and his family.

Once in Massachusetts, Opal met and married Paris Johnson, and they welcomed her

Once in Massachusetts, Opal met and married Paris Johnson, and they welcomed her third daughter, Gwendolyn. She also continued her time in the workforce, working third daughter, Gwendolyn. She also continued her time in the workforce, working as a Nurse’s Aide at Boston City Hospital, before transferring to Jewish Memorial as a Nurse’s Aide at Boston City Hospital, before transferring to Jewish Memorial Hospital in Roxbury Massachusetts, and then the Townsend Nursing home, where Hospital in Roxbury Massachusetts, and then the Townsend Nursing home, where she ended her working career as a Nurse’s Assistant. she ended her working career as a Nurse’s Assistant.

In 1974, Opal was walking in Dudley Square, and there in front of a bank she met

In 1974, Opal was walking in Dudley Square, and there in front of a bank she met Evangelist O’Conner. Evangelist O’Conner was witnessing and passing out tracks, and Evangelist O’Conner. Evangelist O’Conner was witnessing and passing out tracks, and she stopped Opal to talk. This divine encounter would change Opal’s life forever. she stopped Opal to talk. This divine encounter would change Opal’s life forever.

In March of 1975, after months of attending church and dedicating her life to the

In March of 1975, after months of attending church and dedicating her life to the Lord, Opal received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost in her home. Her dear cousin, Lord, Opal received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost in her home. Her dear cousin, Minister Berris Cox was there at the time. And so began her assignment for Christ. Minister Berris Cox was there at the time. And so began her assignment for Christ.

Opalservedonmanychurchboards,andwaspartofthesinginggroup,“TheMighty Opalservedonmanychurchboards,andwaspartofthesinginggroup,“TheMighty DescendantsofTime.”Shewouldalsogoontojoinaprayergroupcalled,“TheFaithfulFewAre DescendantsofTime.”Shewouldalsogoontojoinaprayergroupcalled,“TheFaithfulFewAre PrayingforYou.”Afterathree-dayfastcalledbyMinisterRogers,herfullassignmentwould PrayingforYou.”Afterathree-dayfastcalledbyMinisterRogers,herfullassignmentwould comeintoview.Whenthefastwascompleted,GodgrantedOpalwithaspecialgift,thepowerof comeintoview.Whenthefastwascompleted,GodgrantedOpalwithaspecialgift,thepowerof healinghands. healinghands.

IIn1977,OpalwasordainedasalicensedEvangelistwhileshewasfaithfullyservingasa n1977,OpalwasordainedasalicensedEvangelistwhileshewasfaithfullyservingasa memberofBethelHighwayChurchofChristinDorchester,Massachusetts.Shewasunderthe memberofBethelHighwayChurchofChristinDorchester,Massachusetts.Shewasunderthe lleadershipofBishopJamesJohnsonandremainedamemberofBethelHighwaythroughouther eadershipofBishopJamesJohnsonandremainedamemberofBethelHighwaythroughouther llife,alsoservingasNationalMotheroftheHighwayChurchofChristOrganization.Shereceived ife,alsoservingasNationalMotheroftheHighwayChurchofChristOrganization.Shereceived numerousawardsforherworkintheorganization,sometoincludefaithfulnessinthe numerousawardsforherworkintheorganization,sometoincludefaithfulnessinthe organization,andabuildingfundaward.Opalknewhowtoraisemoney! organization,andabuildingfundaward.Opalknewhowtoraisemoney!

Opalwentontoministeracrossdifferentstates,includingherhomeinMassachusetts,whereshe Opalwentontoministeracrossdifferentstates,includingherhomeinMassachusetts,whereshe wasknownforherengagingmessagesthatdidn’tholdbackanypunches.Shewouldtellyoulike wasknownforherengagingmessagesthatdidn’tholdbackanypunches.Shewouldtellyoulike iitis,soyoucouldunderstandit.Shelaidhandsonthesickandbrokenhearted,andmanywere tis,soyoucouldunderstandit.Shelaidhandsonthesickandbrokenhearted,andmanywere healedthroughthepowerofJesusChrist.Opalalwayssaid,Jesuswasthehealer,shewasjustthe healedthroughthepowerofJesusChrist.Opalalwayssaid,Jesuswasthehealer,shewasjustthe vessel. vessel.

Opalwasagreatcounselor,adevoutwitness,andwaswellknownforherprayerlife.People Opalwasagreatcounselor,adevoutwitness,andwaswellknownforherprayerlife.People ffromalloverwouldsendtheirlovedonestoherwhensomeoneneededprayer.Althoughshe romalloverwouldsendtheirlovedonestoherwhensomeoneneededprayer.Althoughshe wasstrickenwithmanyailmentsoverherlife overseventeensurgeries,andsixboutswith wasstrickenwithmanyailmentsoverherlife overseventeensurgeries,andsixboutswith cancer shealwaystookthetime,nomatterhowshewasfeeling,toprayforanyoneinneed cancer shealwaystookthetime,nomatterhowshewasfeeling,toprayforanyoneinneed andlendherwordsofwisdom.Whenshewasnolongerphysicallyabletofrequentlygooutand andlendherwordsofwisdom.Whenshewasnolongerphysicallyabletofrequentlygooutand prayforpeople,shestartedaprayerlinewhereshecontinuedtoprayandministertopeople prayforpeople,shestartedaprayerlinewhereshecontinuedtoprayandministertopeople overthephone.Upuntilthedayshewoulddepartthislife,Opalwaspraying. overthephone.Upuntilthedayshewoulddepartthislife,Opalwaspraying.

Opal’sstorylivesonbecause,inAprilofthisyear,sheadded“Author”tohermanytitles.With Opal’sstorylivesonbecause,inAprilofthisyear,sheadded“Author”tohermanytitles.With tthehelpofhergranddaughter,Lorraine,theaccountswritteninherjournalaboutherwalkwith hehelpofhergranddaughter,Lorraine,theaccountswritteninherjournalaboutherwalkwith God,herjourneyofreceivingthegiftofhealinghands,andthemiraculousstoriesofthepeople God,herjourneyofreceivingthegiftofhealinghands,andthemiraculousstoriesofthepeople she’sprayedforwhowerehealed,wasturnedintoabook

she’sprayedforwhowerehealed,wasturnedintoabook

Prayer.ByEvangelistOpalJohnson. Prayer.ByEvangelistOpalJohnson.

Opalfoughtthegoodfight.Shefinishedhercourse.Shekeptthefaith.Henceforth,acrownof Opalfoughtthegoodfight.Shefinishedhercourse.Shekeptthefaith.Henceforth,acrownof righteousness,thattheLord,therighteousjudge,willgive,hasnowbeengiventoheringlory(2 righteousness,thattheLord,therighteousjudge,willgive,hasnowbeengiventoheringlory(2 Timothy4:6-8). Timothy4:6-8).

MyHealingHands:ThePowerof
MyHealingHands:ThePowerof

Opalleavesbehind Opalleavesbehind

Daughters- Grace, Celia, Gwendolyn. Brenda, Daughters- Grace, Celia, Gwendolyn. Brenda, Son in Laws- Joseph, Leon. Grandchildren- Son in Laws- Joseph, Leon. GrandchildrenMaurice, Joseph, Laticia, Solomon, Lorraine, Maurice, Joseph, Laticia, Solomon, Lorraine, Latia, Lawrence, Jared, Shamyre, Melissa, Latia, Lawrence, Jared, Shamyre, Melissa, Cachelle, Sheldon. Grand In-Laws- Tenia, Cachelle, Sheldon. Grand In-Laws- Tenia, Jermaine, Akilah, Kauras. Great-Grand Jermaine, Akilah, Kauras. Great-Grand Children- Jaheed, Dyamond, Alyssa, Zyaire, Children- Jaheed, Dyamond, Alyssa, Zyaire, Tyrell, Jaleel, Jaslyn, Justice, Tyree, Jordan, Tyrell, Jaleel, Jaslyn, Justice, Tyree, Jordan, Jermaine, Lyric, Solomon, Jordyn, Tyshawn, Jermaine, Lyric, Solomon, Jordyn, Tyshawn, Keivon, King, Elle, Ever. Cousins- Dale, Diana, Keivon, King, Elle, Ever. Cousins- Dale, Diana, Berris, Theresa, Joel. She leaves a host of God Berris, Theresa, Joel. She leaves a host of God

Children as well as spiritual sisters, brothers,

Children as well as spiritual sisters, brothers, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and friends who became family, who are all and friends who became family, who are all just too numerous to name. just too numerous to name.

She is preceded in death by, She is preceded in death by, Christiphena (mother), Ebenezer (father), Christiphena (mother), Ebenezer (father), Paris Johnson (husband), Aldrich (brother), Paris Johnson (husband), Aldrich (brother), Judith (sister), Delano (brother), Ricky Judith (sister), Delano (brother), Ricky (spiritual son). (spiritual son).

Messagefromhergirls Messagefromhergirls

The Children of Opal (Ma) Johnson, want to let everyone know although Ma was their mother, because of her loving spirit, they shared her with Ma was their mother, because of her loving spirit, they shared her with many. Gwen shared with us that her mother was the mother that many. Gwen shared with us that her mother was the mother that everyone wanted and hoped for, and there will always be a hole in her everyone wanted and hoped for, and there will always be a hole in her heart that can never be filled. She will always love and miss her mother. heart that can never be filled. She will always love and miss her mother. Celia shared with us that she will miss her mother’s voice, her prayers Celia shared with us that she will miss her mother’s voice, her prayers and her wisdom, and she will miss calling her, and sharing her love for and her wisdom, and she will miss calling her, and sharing her love for her. Grace shared with us that her mother has always been important to her. Grace shared with us that her mother has always been important to her and, as a child, she would dream about what would happen if she her and, as a child, she would dream about what would happen if she ever lost her mother. Even back then, she couldn’t imagine her life going ever lost her mother. Even back then, she couldn’t imagine her life going on without her. She said her mother was special to her, and she on without her. She said her mother was special to her, and she appreciates all the sacrifices she made for her, and the unconditional appreciates all the sacrifices she made for her, and the unconditional love she’d given her. love she’d given her.

The Children of Opal (Ma) Johnson, want to let everyone know although

The daughters of Opal Johnson, as well as the family would like to thank

The daughters of Opal Johnson, as well as the family would like to thank everyone for their calls, texts, cards, words of comfort, and support everyone for their calls, texts, cards, words of comfort, and support through this difficult time. through this difficult time.

We love you all. And as Ma would say, “Keep the faith!” We love you all. And as Ma would say, “Keep the faith!”

Celebration

Old T Old T

OF
ORDER

A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T

The family would like to send their sincere appreciation and thanks to the numerous doctors, nurses, specialist, and other medical care teams, who cared for our precious loved one, Opal, (Ma) during her life: Boston Medical Center, Boston University Medical Center, alth center in Cheraw and Florence, ou to her oncologist, Dr. Nerhu, her y Care Specialist, Nurse Practitioner e.

A R E R S

on, Lawrence, ine, Kauras, l, Justice, ne, Solomon, n, King

R E P A S T

LITHUANIAN KITCHEN RESTAURANT BAR 368 W Broadway South Boston, MA 02127

PARKING OPTIONS

Pay for Park: 383 Athens st South Boston Ma.02127

Municipal lot: 449 W. Broadway South Boston MA

F U N E R A L H O M E S E R V I C E S

Floyd A. Williams Funeral Home, Inc.

490 Columbia Rd, Dorchester, MA 02125

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.