Ugirtha June Johnson

Ugirtha June Johnson of Flint, MI was 104 years old when she passed away on July 28, 2023, at The Oaks at Woodfield in Grand Blanc, MI. June was originally from Pittsburgh, PA. She also lived in McKeesport, PA, then moved to Augusta, GA, before relocating to Flint, MI.

June was born on June 11, 1919, to Giles and Myrtle Sheffey in Logan County, West Virginia. Her father died in a mining accident when June was a young child. Her mother Myrtle married a second time, becoming Myrtle Ferguson. She gave birth to June’s two sisters, Elizabeth and Catherine (both now deceased). June loved school and favored her English classes the most. She was a proud graduate of McKeesport High School. She looked forward to attending countless reunions that would be held afterward over the years.

June met her husband Lawrence “Larry” Johnson when they were both in grade school as children. They were married for nearly 60 years before his passing in the year 2000. They had three daughters: Darlene Stewart (deceased), Janice Daniels of North Augusta, SC, and Linette Berry of Flint, MI.

June was a busy homemaker. June is known as Momma, Grandma, Gram, Nana, Great Grandma, and Great-Great Grandma, and fondly as “Queen June.” She spread her love to all who came in contact with her. She cherished her three daughters, nine grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren all of whom she adored.

In 2004, June moved to Augusta, GA to be near her daughter Janice Daniels. She was embraced by many friends and church members who adopted her into their families. In 2015, June relocated to Flint, MI to be near her youngest daughter and husband, Linette and Dr. Kingsley Joel Berry.

June embraced her love of cooking food and eating it! One Christmas season June’s mother, Myrtle, made a holiday cake for their guests. The night before the guests arrived and after everyone had gone to bed, June cut into the cake and ate it leaving a big hole. What a surprise when the family awoke. Ironically, a similar incident would happen to June years later when she was the cook and her very young daughter Linette scooped out the middle of a cake baked for company. How could she get mad when Linette commented “But Mommy it tasted so good!” Not too many years ago, June surprised us by once again cutting into a holiday cake the night before it was to be served. All we could do was laugh in our disbelief. June truly started our family tradition of “having your cake and eating it too!”

June spread love to all who came in contact with her. June’s hobbies over the years included travel, playing card games including bridge, reading, making homemade dishes and baked goods from “scratch,” bible study, Putt-Putt, and watching PBA Pro Bowling and Pro Golf. She always enjoyed parades, carnivals, fairs, and ice cream cones. Her most favorites recently were Wii Bowling and dancing. For many years June loved to ride the Ferris wheel whenever she saw one. After reaching her 90s and as recently as age 103, June would play the “old lady card,” meaning that she would request extra rides on the Ferris wheel without getting in line again since she was a senior citizen. Who could deny her that?

While raising her daughters, she served on the following: PTA, assisting the Leader of the Girl Scouts, School Lunch Volunteer, and active member of the Sheraden Presbyterian Church (Pittsburgh, PA) where she served 25 years as the Secretary of the Friendly Bible Class. She was a senior cheerleader who accompanied the mayor of the City of Pittsburgh on several occasions proudly strutting and waving her pom-poms! After relocating to Augusta, Ga., June joined the St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. She always strived to maintain a positive attitude and express a deep love for her family. June was proudly recognized as a Centenarian on her 100th birthday by the Valley Area Agency on Aging in Genessee County.

June was always a learner. She always encouraged her family to pursue education of all types. She wrote many hand-written letters/cards to family & friends in perfect English. She regularly scored 200+ when Wii Bowling. Using her walker, she occasionally danced the waltz during entertainment hour where she would lead with others following her around the room in a conga line.

She was preceded in death by her parents Myrtle Sheffey Ferguson, and her father Giles Sheffey; her sisters: Elizabeth Ferguson and Catherine Ferguson, daughter Darlene Stewart and her grandson by marriage, Timothy Clark. Surviving are her daughters: Janice Daniels, and Linette (Dr. Kingsley Joel) Berry; grandchildren: Cecile Clark, Rev. Maria (Rev. Michael) Westbrook, André Ellis, Terri (Roger) Bracy, Carol (Melvin) Washington, Ashley (Quintin) Evans, Sydney (Richard) Townsend, Dr. Kimberly Berry, and Jonathan Berry; great-grandchildren: Jason (RaShandra, Esq.) Clark, Tabitha Clark, Esq., Sabrina Clark, Holiday Ellis, Nya Simone Ellis, Roger Bracy, Maya Bracy, Noah Washington, Avery Evans, Jamison Evans, Zaria Townsend, and Cairo Townsend; great-great-grandchildren: Amara Okoro and Asa Clark and a whole host of other relatives.

There are two videos where June expresses her love and that capture not only her personality but her very essence. You are invited to view them and know that she’s with us in spirit forever!

The first video was made by her great-granddaughter Maya to honor June’s 99th birthday. It pretty well sums up her joy of living and the love of family all around her. This is part of our everlasting memories of momma.

http://youtu.be/JQWTSlbbzkk

The second video was made by the Valley Area Agency on Aging in Genessee County to honor centenarians in 2020. Please scroll down to find the video of the interview with June Johnson (6th down).

https://valleyareaaging.org/senior-spotlight/

Gratitude and Thankful Appreciation from the Family

If we had to describe our Queen June in two words, they would be “Grateful Lady.”

The family of June Johnson would like to express appreciation and gratitude to so many individuals and families who helped us look out and look after our Queen, “June Bug” (the endearing term her forever love and husband Larry gave her).

Queen June’s family recognizes that we could never name all the individuals who make up the village that surrounded our Mother during her lifetime with love and caring beyond measure making her 104 years here on earth even remotely possible. It does take a village of love for and from others to withstand the winds of time with its ups and downs.

To honor all the villagers with just a few words of love within the oceans of gratitude that the family feels, we praise God and thank Him for His son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for each and every person, church, organization, medical professionals, friends, families who adopted her, and all who cared enough to extend assistance with support to our Mother as she traveled along these marvelous earthly trails and finally entering the gates of heaven, her forever home with God. May grace and mercy accompany all the loving village members into the future as we carry the legacy of our family and ancestors with us.

The Family of Ugirtha June Johnson

There will be no visitation per June’s request. Celebration of Life is at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at Kegel Funeral Home 3560 Washington Avenue Finleyville, PA 15332.

Kegel Funeral Home is located outside of Pittsburgh, PA.

Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Ugirtha June Johnson to an organization or charity of your choice.

To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Ugirtha June Johnson’s online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit:

www.nationalcremation.com

To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Ugirtha June Johnson’s online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.nationalcremation.com

My Mother's Hands

When Lawrence Johnson died I wrote about "My Father's Hands" and now it's about "My Mother's Hands"

Written in love by Janice Daniels

The following are some of the memories coming from our mother's hands....as Dar, Linette (our Netsie) and I (Janeo) grew up

As we performed in a play, sang, danced or marched in school, mom would always cheer & clap,

And if we were misbehaving or were really "bad", we might get a lecture or a little tap; She always told us to sit up straight or we'd get that poke in the back — as to just “fly right"! When we learned, then mom's baked goodies made our tummies & world just right!

When we were feeling bad about something or really physically sick,

Mom would stroke our foreheads and we felt better...just like a magic trick; She meticulously wrote her recipes, notes and letters galore,

With cards or letters including her "jokes" making all who received one feel restored!

She recorded our family history in her bible with her memory oh so well,

Who begot who and the family occasions, again with family pride she swelled;

But don't get back in "trouble", she would wag that "finger" and give you the "look"

Once you recovered, she would once again give you her "I love you" hug & cook;

Now mom cried when she was happy and also when she was sad or mad,

But you knew her mood would eventually pass, then her smile & her return to glad! She lived her own form of abandon...never needing gossip, smoke or drink, Mom preferred to concentrate on teaching us how we should act and think!

She loved to write good English, dance and often window shop and shop,

And would walk you around her neighborhood or the Mall, until you absolutely dropped!

She always had her "little note" or "list" for you in the same place on the dining room table ahead; So mom made sure that you sat down at the table and read;

Then we needed to discuss what was on "the agenda", ensuring that she knew,

Exactly what we were up to, then writing it in her calendar, so we would surely do.

The exciting things she looked forward to...like fairs, festival, parades, weddings and family gatherings galore...

Where she would dress, dance and prance, that young June bug was no bore!

Our mom loved to "pickmick", swim, play Putt-Putt, travel and eat ice cream near and far,

We'd "get lost" on a family drive, while her Larry drove and we were in the back seat of the car;

She enjoyed any buffet in town, transferring any unwanted food to Larry's plate,

And of course daddy acted like he loved this, because he knew with his "June Bug", there was no other space;

Even in her 90's, in the ocean mom wanted to float, until I was afraid and said "that's enough"... So she just switched to Mel and Roger, smiling until she got them to in the ocean "dunk" her, such bold and stubborn stuff!

My and our memories are too numerous to ever completely write or record,

So let's just remember and know at the conclusion...we are as a family, all on one accord;

I know you can hear mom, gram or great gram saying "Now let's just have a good day", Now really, what can I or others offer or otherwise ever say!

Ugirtha June Johnson loved her family, by her hands touching, baking, writing and dancing.. weaving in us a start,A legacy to remember her love and weave in us a family union, now we can see her rest in the Lord, and say "Amen" from our hearts!