Margaret Emma Groves Johnson

Margaret Groves Johnson, who was born on April 9, 1919 went to be with the Lord on December 21, 2011. She was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, Elmer Johnson Jr., parents, and all her siblings. She is survived by her first son, Elmer Johnson, III and his wife Bea and her second son, George Groves Johnson and his wife Ofie. Additionally, she was survived by a step-daughter, Eleanor Saint and her husband Velon. She also had three grand children: Jeannie Johnson, Jill Pieper and her husband Neil, and Elmer (Bubba) Johnson IV. Margaret saw the birth of two great grand children as well, Tristin Pieper and Gage Pieper.

Margaret Groves Johnson was born Margaret Emma Groves on April 9, 1919 to Iradale County Groves and Nona Groves. She was one of five children born to the couple. Margaret grew up on a farm in the small rural community of Ofahoma located between Canton and Carthage Mississippi, just East of the Natchez Trace. As a young girl growing up in a farming family, Margaret was no stranger to hard work. Family members during this period of Farming Americana all pitched in to make the family farm work. Margaret picked cotton and okra as well as tended chickens and cattle.

While Growing up and not engaged in chores expected of her on the family farm, she attended grade school and later high school in Forrest Grove. At age 17, while a junior in high school, she received Jesus as her Savior in 1936 in an evangelistic outreach in Forest Grove. Margaret knew from that time on she wanted to do something with her life that would be meaningful. By her senior year, she had determined that she would become a nurse in order that she could help people and all the while sharing Christ with those people whose lives she would touch. When Margaret graduated from high school the following year, she knew she had to leave the family farm to find work in Jackson in order to earn enough money to put herself through college.

Moving to Jackson MS in 1937, Margaret lived with her cousin, L. T. Brantley, a Methodist Minister and his family. She stayed with the Brantleys for four years working a full time job and babysitting sometimes on weekends for them. The Brantleys believed what Margaret was doing was God’s will for her life and they wanted to help in any way they could. Finally, in September of 1941, she had enough funds set aside to embark on her journey to become a registered nurse. Margaret left her cousins household with their blessing and enrolled in Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.

Margaret Spent four years at Vanderbilt University in pursuit of her degree. In May of 1945, she graduated and returned to Jackson, MS. to begin serving a two year nursing internship at Jackson Infirmary. There she would be relatively close to her parents and could visit them on occasions. While at Jackson Infirmary, Margaret was recognized for her diligence and her care of patients. In April of 1947, having not quite completed her two year internship, she was chosen with a number of other nurses and medical personnel to fly to Texas City, TX at the request of the Federal Government. There she was to assist those people affected by the terrible disaster that happened in the Port as a result of a ship containing ammonium nitrate exploding. The blast virtually destroyed the Port, killing 581 people and injuring thousands. Needless to say, Margaret’s training and gifting were put to tremendous use. For her service during the disaster aftermath, she received grateful recognition and honor from Jackson Infirmary as well as from the United States Government.

Following Margaret’s internship fulfillment at Jackson Infirmary, she became aware of a nursing position at the Methodist Hospital in Shreveport, LA. This position was in the surgical wing and offered greater pay and opportunity. She applied for the opening and was accepted. A long cherished desire in addition to helping people was also to help her parents. By this time, they were the only ones working the farm and with limited mechanization they were only making a meager living. The new job would give her ample resource to provide them with the assistance they needed.

Margaret went on to work at the Methodist Hospital for four years. In September of 1951, a family approached the hospital for help in finding a private duty nurse to care for a stroke victim. The nursing administrator suggested that Margaret Groves be one of those that the requesting family should consider. After meeting with Margaret, the family chose her to be the one to care for their family’s needs. The family wanting a private duty nurse, just so happened to be the Johnson family. This was the family that her future husband would come from because she would be caring for his mother, Bassie Johnson. Margaret left Methodist Hospital and went into private duty nursing as an employee of the Johnson family. Not long after being involved in caring for Bassie Johnson, she met her son Elmer Johnson Jr. The two seemed to hit it off and after four months of dating, they eloped in January of 1952.

Elmer Johnson, being employed by Tennessee Gas Pipeline at the time, lived in Bellaire, TX. Margaret moved there with him to start their new life together. She went to work for Methodist Hospital in Houston as a surgical registered nurse. After two years of marriage, they wanted to have a family. In January of 1955, their first son, Elmer III was born. In June of 1956, their second son, George Groves Johnson was born. Following the birth of their second son, Margaret went to work for Nabisco Foods as a company nurse. She previously had left employment at Methodist Hospital prior to the birth of their first son. Initially, Margaret worked full time for Nabisco, but in 1959 she decided to do relief or part time work to spend time with her family. Margaret continued to work for Nabisco in that capacity until the end of 1985 when she retired. From that time on she spent her time with her sons and their families as well as helping those in need and sharing Christ.

Margaret lived a full live attaining the age of 92. She had always wanted to leave this world from her home and in her sleep. She pretty much achieved this by just closing her eyes and taking her final breath while sitting up and at home. On December 21, 2011, Margaret went to be with the Lord and her late husband, Elmer Johnson, Jr. who had preceded her in death in March of 1983.