Obituary of Phyllis S. Johnson

Phyllis S. Johnson was born on June 14, 1942 in Pittsburgh, PA the youngest daughter to parents Arenzo R. and Louise Charleton Snith. She graduated from Westinghouse High School in 1960 and from Cheyney University in 1964.

She became an elementary school teacher in Pittsburgh and went on to teach in Long Island, New York and in Westfield, New Jersey. Phyllis enjoyed engaging and interacting with her many students and in 1992, she was designated a Master Teacher by WNET/Channel 13.

Phyllis was well-learned and well respected by those she came in contact with and the first words many would describe her would be "prim and proper". Some may have even been intimidated by her secular education. However, she once told her close friend, Gail Hunter Gailbraith, "what I learned secularly was nothing compared to learning the truth about Jehovah from the Bible". Gail, her Bible teacher(they fondly called each other Ms. Phyllis and Ms. Gail) was priviledged to see Phyllis get baptized in March of 1989 as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Behind Phyllis's scholarly demeanor was a warm, heartfelt person, who longed for the same things in life that most desire:acceptance, to love and be loved, and to be known for her interior not exterior qualities. Phyllis used her teaching skills in her ministr, attending weekly meetings to  improve her skills. She assisted others to know Bible truths week after week. A highlight for her was attending the Regional Conventions of Jehovah's Witnesses with her brothers and sisters in the congregation. She was faithful and endured until the end.

Phyllis is survived by her son, Louis N. Johnson, II, brother Arenzo R. Smith, Jr. sister Doris Barker and her 3 grandchildren, Kendra Olivia, Cheyenne Kayla Johnson, Kiya Aaliyah Hatchett Johnson and many dear friends.