Mary Lizzie Johnson, 86, of Palatka resident, residing in Irvington N.J., entered the sunset of life on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, NJ following a brief illness. She was a native of Lizella, GA., and formerly resided in Newark, NJ for over 20 years. Born on April 18, 1923, in Lizella, Georgia. Mary was one of two children of the late Gussie Mosley and Robert Hicks. Mary Johnson spent her formative years in Macon, Georgia, and was educated in the Bibb County GA Public School system. As a young adult, she moved to Palatka, Florida, where she wed Edories Johnson, Sr. at that time she accepted Christ and joined the Baptist Church. In the early 1960s, the Johnson family relocated to Newark, New Jersey, where Mary lived for over 20 years. She returned to Palatka, Florida, which was her final home. Because of her culinary expertise, Mary Johnson was a self-employed, restaurant owner for many years until her retirement. Upon retirement, she continued to work part-time as a cook. Mary Johnson will always be remembered for her love of western movies, games of chance, and her love of cooking, especially her famous coconut cake. She celebrated life and cherished time spent with family. She was preceded in eternal rest by sons, Edories Johnson, Jr., and Anthony Johnson; grandson, Hakim Flood; and nephew Cecil Wright.

To cherish her memories, sons, Richard Johnson and Wallace Johnson, both of Irvington, NJ., Robert Brooks of Palatka; daughters, Harriet (Eugene) Johnson, Newark, NJ., and Henrietta (Courtney) Wright of Germantown, MD; Sister, Rozzie Feaster, East Orange, NJ; 18 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren and a host of other relatives.

Visitation of family and friends will be 9-11 a.m. Saturday, January 23 followed by the Homegoing Celebration 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Primitive Baptist Church, 165 Phillips Dairy Road, Palatka. Elder Lemon Nixon, Pastor is the Eulogist. Interment will follow in the Oak Hill East Cemetery.