Cheryl Louise Johnson

Cheryl Louise Johnson was born on May 24, 1955, to Joseph L. Johnson I and Mildred Christoper Johnson in the New Berlin community on the Northside of Jacksonville, Florida.

Cheryl was a curious, fun loving, family focused, straight shooter of a soul. She knew her way around every corner of the English language and she never hesitated to let you know. Her smile could light up any room. Her laughter was infectious. She loved to play spades and Pokeno and her favorite day of the week was any day that included a crab boil, steamed oysters, and a whole bunch of family and neighborhood friends. Cheryl was also an afficionado of life’s finer things, like her many designer hats, silk scarves, African garb, and extensive jewelry collection. She made it her business to always look like royalty and smell like flowers. Maya Angelou may as well have been family the way Cheryl read and remembered her writings. Her favorite was I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Cheryl knew only one way to live: with all her heart.

Cheryl attended Andrew Jackson Senior High School where she met many of her lifelong friends. After graduating from Jackson, she went to Tallahassee to attend FAMU and later Florida Community College at Jacksonville.

Soon thereafter, Cheryl was married to Willie Jackson and though their union ended after many years together, it produced an enduring relationship with Willie’s daughters Mellyora and Mellisa, which extended to their children as well.

Following in the footsteps of her father, Cheryl entered the field of education in Duval County Public Schools. Her career spanned many years in the roles of paraprofessional and classroom instructor at Head Start until she retired. It was during her time as an educator that Cheryl decided to step into the role of foster parent and subsequently adoptive parent.

Cheryl was a member of New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church for her entire adult life. She loved her New Bethel family, and she served faithfully under the leadership of Pastor and First Lady Roger and Angie Burton. She loved praise and worship and never refused anyone that wanted to petition God on her behalf.

In her later years, even in the face of health challenges, her heart and mind were constantly on the well-being of her children, her grandchildren, her siblings, and her friends. She wanted to see everyone happy and whole, and she went to great lengths to help make it so.

Cheryl was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Joseph L. Johnson I and Mildred C. Johnson, her sister, Anita James, her daughter-in-law, Mellyora Jackson, and granddaughter-in-law, Kassandra Jackson. Cheryl leaves behind to cherish her legacy and memories, her daughters, Rochelle Simmons and Debra Maxwel-Johnson; daughter-in-law, Mellisa Pierson (Marshall); grandchildren, Jasmin Jackson (Courtney), Joshua Jackson (Shakora), Joseph Wiley (Tezara), Ki’Maya Brown, Kameron Brown, and Yann’i; great grandchildren, Destiny Sims, Kalaysia Young, and JaVari Pierson; siblings, Joseph L. Johnson II, Rodney Dunston (Valerie), Christopher J. Johnson Sr. (Vernita), and Sheila Carr; and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends.

Sarah L. Carter's Funeral Home Northside is serving the Family.

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