Obituary of Mary Frances Johnson

Mary Frances Johnson, 81, was called home to eternity with Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior, on December 17, 2017. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 21, 2017 from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. at Natchez Trace Funeral Home, located at 759 Hwy. 51, in Madison, Mississippi, followed by a celebration of life service at 11:30 a.m. A graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. at Concord Baptist Church Cemetery, located at 2887 Concord-Bethsalem Road, Ackerman, Ms. 39735.

 Ms. Johnson was born to John Henry and Mary Harrison Marshall on April 21, 1936, and was raised with her two sisters, Sue and Lucille, and brother, John, on a farm in rural Kemper County, near Philadelphia, Ms. She was a 1954 graduate of East Neshoba High School, and a 1957 graduate of Gilfoy School of Nursing at Mississippi Baptist Hospital in Jackson, Ms.

 She married Charles Kugle in 1957, and together they raised four children, Ken, Ricky, Marc, and Teresa. Following Charles’ death in 1979, she married Billy Johnson in 1989. They remained married until his death in 2016.

 Ms. Johnson worked as a registered nurse for approximately 38 years, first at Baptist Hospital in Jackson, Ms., then at G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson, and retired in 1995. During the course of her career, she was praised for her ability, dependability and professionalism.

 Ms. Johnson was a long-time member of First Baptist Church in Madison, Ms. She enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, cooking, spending time with family (especially her grandchildren) and friends, including members of her Saturday morning breakfast club. In retirement she visited the homebound and sick, often delivering home-baked cakes and pies, and sermon tapes from her church. She was described as quiet and sweet by those who knew her, and she humbly devoted her life to her family and to helping and caring for others. Her faith and underlying strength and tenacity helped carry us through the trials and tragedies of this life. She will be greatly missed.

 Ms. Johnson was preceded in passing by her parents, John Henry and Mary Harrison Marshall, her first husband, Charles O. Kugle, her second husband, Billy D. Johnson, and her youngest son, Marc Kugle.

She is survived by her sons, Ken Kugle of Madison, Ms. and Ricky Kugle of Canton, Ms., daughter, Teresa Forrest of Decatur, Ms., grandchildren, Joshua Forrest (Caitlin) of Hattiesburg, Ms., Jason Forrest and Jessica Forrest, both of Decatur, Ms., sisters, Sue Hall and Lucille Myatt (Felton), and brother, John Marshall (Lynda), all of Philadelphia, Ms.

 Her family wishes to thank the staff at Brookdale Senior Living in Ridgeland, Ms., as well as other caregivers, physicians, friends and relatives who visited and cared for her, and helped us during her illness.