Johnella Womack

Anyone that knows Johnella Womack knows that she had a particular opinion of how things should be. She loved to dress, to go out to eat and to eat Mexican and drink margaritas! It’s been told that she used to like to dance and used to sing, a lot.

She was a child of the Depression, born on the 16th of February 1933. She passed down the lessons of frugality, prudence and self-reliance. She also made it clear that she was “the Mama! (or “the Mother!” depending on the level of formality she wanted to express). She showed love best by doing the things she thought were the best for her family and friends and she did a lot.

Johnella (or Johnnie, as she was often called) was baptized at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in 1942. She became a member of Allen Chapel AME Church and Christ Church Cathedral where she was active in numerous ministries and leadership roles. Johnella saw the world through that particular lens that was sure that everything and everyone had their place. In that way, she understood that everyone had worth. She did a lot in her 89 years, one of her greatest accomplishments – aside from successfully raising her children: Jay (Craig), Karin and Lawrence (Sharita) and helping to support her grandchildren: Meghann (Irvin), Jonathan (Shae) Jessica, Isaac, Caleb and Miriam and doting on her great grandchildren: Ava, Alivia, Alijah, Jonathan, Jr. and Selah, was graduating with her Bachelor’s of Science, Magna Cum Laude, from Martin University.

She is a proud graduate of Crispus Attucks High School, class of 1949 – graduating at 16 years old. She attended Indiana Business College Night School in secretarial training. She retired from the Metropolitan School District of Pike Township having worked at Guion Creek Elementary School as Secretary of Student Services until becoming employed as a Sickle Cell Counselor at Martin Center until her (complete) retirement in 1995.

She leaves to mourn her passing and carry on her legacy the aforementioned children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, three nieces: Stephanie, Janet and Bridget; five nephews: John, Sr., Eric, Dennis, Chaun and Scott; six grandnephews: Juan, Bobby, Tony, Glenn, John, Jr., Joshua and Philip; five grand-nieces: Raquel, Felicia, Teresa, Starlet, Ayanna and a large number of extended family and numerous friends.