Obituary of Frances Johnson

Frances Garner Johnson

Mrs. Frances Garner Johnson, 88, of Raleigh, died Sunday, February 1, 2009, at Mayview Convalescent Center, Raleigh.

Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 4, 2009 in the Montlawn Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends following the service. Interment in Montlawn Memorial Park will follow.

Frances was born in Biscoe, NC, on May 1, 1920, and at the age of two she and her two older sisters moved into the Oxford Orphanage where she lived until she was 17. She moved to Raleigh with her aunt, Mrs. Beulah Dizor, where she graduated Hugh Morson High School and Hardbarger's Business College. On Thanksgiving Day 1939, she married Baxter Johnson, Jr., became secretary to NC Secretary of State Thad Eure, before becoming the CFO of Baxter Johnson Grading Company.

Frances is survived four children - sons Michael "Mike" Johnson and wife Amy, of Ocracoke Island, and Rhett Johnson and wife Sandra, of Lewisville; and daughters Sue Cross and husband Robbie, and Judy (Johnson) Lineberger, both of Raleigh; nine grandchildren including Brady and Clint Johnson, Marc, Brent, and Laura Lineberger, Kristin Davin and Stacey Johnson, and Erin Gross and Travis Cross; and great grandchildren including Kellen and Claire Johnson and Brayden and Bella Lineberger.

Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her husband Baxter Johnson (1985) and sisters Helen Johnson and Martha Crawford.

The family would like to thank the staff at Mayview, especially Annette Foreman, Cynthia Evans, Loretta Bristow, and Janette Young, for their devoted care. Also a special thanks to Dr. William Lee.

The family welcomes flowers or your contributions to Oxford Orphanage, now named "The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford" 600 College St., Oxford, NC 27565.

Arrangements by Montlawn Funeral Home, 2911 S. Wilmington Street, Raleigh (www.montlawn.com)