Gladys Holland Johnson

June 15, 1920 - December 12, 2016 Gladys Holland Johnson, age 96, Glade Hill, passed away peacefully Monday evening, December 12, 2016 at her residence. She was born June 15, 1920 in Union Hall, the youngest daughter of the late John Henry Rufus and Lydia Parker Holland. She attended the old Timber Ridge School, walking from the Holland home place near Old Bethel Primitive Baptist Church. In 1941 she married the late Berks Allen “B.A.” Johnson who preceded her in death on June 20, 1977 and they settled at the Johnson home place known as “Popular Camp” and were blessed to raise nine daughters there. She was a homemaker who took pride in raising her family. She was a talented quilter who loved to spend countless hours putting quilts together and quilting them and sharing them with her family. She was always very proud that all of her family members from daughters to great-grandchildren had a quilt that had been lovingly created by her. She loved her flowers and working in her yard and flower beds as well and you could always be assured that her porch was filled with beautiful flowers during the summer season and she had a special knack for raising geraniums. She loved to dance and was especially fond of bluegrass music and always enjoyed her time spent at the Redwood Community Center on a Saturday night with the dance group. She had a great love for Crafts and enjoyed making dolls and ceramics throughout the years. She always enjoyed her family and friends and always had a smile to greet you when you arrived for a visit with her. In 2000 she was named the Mother of the Year by the Franklin County Merchants Association. She was of the Primitive Baptist Faith and attended Old Bethel Primitive Baptist Church. She was the last of her generation and was preceded in death by her brothers, Willie, Albert, Clyde, Paul, and Grady; her sisters, Dotsie, Virgie, and Peggy. She was also preceded by two grandchildren, Berkley and David; one great-grandchild, Jordan; and a son-in-law, Kenneth Spear. She is survived by her daughters, Marcille J. Motley of Gretna, Ruth J. Mattox (Eugene) of Rocky Mount, Delsie J. Spear, Brenda J. Aveline (Dave), Barbara J. Quinn (Neil), Norma J. Turner (Garry) all of Glade Hill, Betty J. Powell (Warren) of Burnt Chimney, Nancy J. Johnson of Hardy, and Kaye J. Dent (Steve) of Boones Mill. She is also survived by 21 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. She leaves a cherished group of nieces and nephews as well. Although she never had any sons, she always looked at her sons-in-law as the sons she never had. The family wishes to acknowledge the Wonderful Care that the caregivers, Tonya Crookshanks and Becky Sparks provided to our mother. Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 PM Friday, December 16, 2016 at Conner-Bowman Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Larry Hollandsworth and her grandson, R. Keith Motley officiating. She will be laid to rest in the Ayers Family Cemetery by her beloved Berks. Friends may call after 2 p.m. Thursday, December 15th with her family receiving friends from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and other times at the residence in Glade Hill. Arrangements are being handled by Conner-Bowman Funeral Home, 62 VA Market Place Drive (Route 220 at Wirtz Road), Rocky Mount. www.connerbowman.com (540) 334-5151