Bessie Anthony Johnson

Mrs. Hannah [Bessie] Lee Anthony Johnson was born to Emma Duncan Bertha Sherrill, the daughter of Horace and Rebecca Anthony. She was affectionally known to many as Dollie or Doll and grew up in Heath Springs, SC. She was married to the late Henry Johnson and blessed with seven children. 

Bessie surrendered her life to Christ at an early age and continued her spiritual growth through community churches and home Bible studies with her own children and those in the community. After joining Bright Light Baptist Church in her early years, she honored Christ as a faithful member and good steward for more than 80 years where she served in the Deaconess Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Intercessory Prayer Ministry [along with the extended Hospital and Nursing Home Visitation Ministry], until the loss of her sight in 2022. In addition to her service in the church, she also served as an elected officer with the Senior Citizens and Federation of the Blind.

She was a branch grown from the true vine of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our Father in Heaven, the husbandman. A godly woman and licensed minister who has reared her children to be faithful to God, loving, caring, nurturing, and encouraging; instilling godly values, leading by example, and living each day placing God first and foremost in her life.  

With God as her guide, she was a source of godly strength that served as encouragement to those He placed in her path. God endowed her with a giving heart and a warm embrace for others in need. 

Her caring, nurturing, and love, she gave so effortlessly and endlessly to one and to all. It didn’t matter to her if you were blood, family, church, or a passerby; she opened her heart and home to all in need.

For more than three scores and ten, there have been children, whether biological, adopted or fostered, as well as grandchildren, in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends, or friends of friends and family members that have lived in her home and received the love and care bestowed upon her that only a godly mother could have given. She faithfully shared her gift(s) as God commanded in Proverbs 18:16 and I Peter 4:10!

She believed everyone to be special and deserving of the best. So, she gave and gave, not looking for rest. She knew that day would come—when the Lord would say to her, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:23 (AMP)

Preceding her in death were her husband, Henry; two sons, Elmo Frank Anthony and Ezell McIlwain; father and stepmother, Horace and Rebecca Anthony; mother, Emma Duncan Bertha; three sisters, Sarah Crockett, Mary Alice Anthony, and Alice Mae Beckham; two brothers, James and L. J. Bertha.

She leaves to cherish her memory three sons, Billy (Sylvia) Johnson, Tyrone (Betty) Johnson, Anthony Johnson; two daughters, Vanessa (Howard) Waiters and Minister Mary (Willie) Black, Dorothy McIlwain (daughter-in-law), 14 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, a loving sister-in-law (Thelma Johnson), and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and foster children. She also leaves some very special nieces, a nephew, and friends who kept her fed in abundance (Patricia Thompson, Mary Lynn (Curtis) Mingo, Brenda (Johnny) Brown, Sarah Crockett, Ned Anthony, Cora M. (Wilbert) Twitty), and Herman Sowell (caregiver).

The family gives all honor and praise to God for He truly blessed us with a virtuous woman; a godly mother, grandmother [at every level], aunt, and cousin!

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