Dorothy Payne Johnson

Dorothy Payne Johnson, 89, of Charlotte NC passed away at White Oak Manor Skilled Nursing Facility on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 after a lengthy illness. She was born on February 20, 1924 in Atlanta, GA to the late Henry and Lillie (Gunnings) Payne. Dorothy was one of five children born into this union. Dorothy graduated from Booker T. Washington high school and was a 1946 graduate of Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University). Dorothy taught for many years in the Atlantic public school system, primarily at Frank L. Stanton elementary school. She was a faithful member of historic Big Bethel A.M.E Church where she served on Usherette Board #3 for many years. Dorothy and her husband, George, moved to Charlotte in 1975 where Dorothy continued her teaching career in the Charlotte Public School System. When she retired from teaching while at Pineville Elementary in 1989, Dorothy had accumulated nearly 40 years of great professional service! As a starch, committed, lifelong AME member, officer, and frequent delegate, Dorothy joined Greater Bethel A.M.E Church soon after her arrival in Charlotte. She served in a variety of capacities and after many years as a member of the Steward Board, Greater Bethel honored Dorothy immensely by naming her as one of the first Steward Emerita in 2010. Dorothy, or “Dot”, as she was known by many of her close friends, traveled extensively with her husband George or “Pop” (who was “Voted One of the World’s Greatest Bridge Players”) playing bridge all around this country. Although George played bridge oftentimes 10-12 hours per day on these trips, rumor has it that Dorothy and her friends spent most of their time shopping and sightseeing but did manage to see a bridge table every now and then! To her children she was known as “Mother Dear”, to her grands as “Dear” and if you ever saw her smile you can understand why. She was quite a lady with a gentle spirit and brilliant smile that could light up a room! When Pop met Dear at an annual Thanksgiving Day Football Game between Clark and Morris Brown Colleges in Atlanta, he remarked “she was the most beautiful woman in the world” and he had to make her his wife(!)” ….and the rest of the story you know! Dorothy believed in being an active member of society. She was a proud, committed member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; the American Bridge Association; the Starlettes Social Club in Atlanta; the 13ettes Pinochle Group in Charlotte; the Clark Atlanta Alumni Association; and very important to her, the Hyde Park Estates Community Association plus several others along the way. Dorothy is survived by her son Philip Gregory Johnson (Victoria); a sister, Mary Harvey (R.L) of Atlanta, GA; brother and sister-in-law, Eugene W. Johnson, Sr. (Ileana) of Hampton, VA; five grandchildren by marriage, Heather Rutherford (Darren) of Stafford, VA, Erika Massaquoi (Joe) of New York; Michele, Asma, and Jabril Muhammad of Miami, FL; five great grandchildren by marriage Brittney, Victoria, Chabria, Ronald III, and Darrah; and one great-great grandchild, Breyonna. Dorothy was preceded in death by her loving husband of 61 years George Willard Johnson, Jr.; son Lawrence Walden Johnson; son by marriage Bilal Farad Muhammad (the former George W. Johnson III) and brothers Harold, Marion aka “Bill” (Viola Williams) and Walter Frank Payne. Dorothy also leaves to mourn her passing her beloved surrogate daughters and sons, Barbara and Charles Kitchen and Linda Comer and Charles “Chuck” Assenco; special friends Lena Jones and Rose Pyles; along with a host of family, friends, close neighbors, church members, sorority sisters and a large extended family of bridge players who kept in touch! The family also wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to all of her doctors, caregivers, friends, and neighbors who touched Dorothy’s life along the way. Thank you!