May Johnson

May B. Johnson NORFOLK - May B. Johnson went to sleep Friday, Jan. 8, 2011 and did not wake up Saturday morning in the 97th year of her life for breakfast and daily ritual of 20 pain pills and five eye drops. Her son, Ronald R. Johnson and daughter-in-law Emma gave her around the clock care for almost six years. Medicare and Tricare paid for prescriptions and professional services from Health Care Services, (Gentiva, Kelly's, Genesys, and Personal Touch Hospice) and home visits from doctors. They expressed concern and empathy for her pain but she would always tell them what her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ taught in that famous prayer, "Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Then she would have them read Isaiah 33:24, "No more sickness," and Revelation 21:4, "...that he would wipe all tears from their eyes, and there would be no more death, sorrow, and pain have passed away." As time got closer to death she knew it would not be long. So she would remind herself of II Corinthians 4:18, "To keep your eyes on the prize." She knew that she would sleep until that future time, under God's kingdom, that the words of Job 14:15 would apply to her, "You will call and I will answer." When she is resurrected on earth. She was one of Jehovah's Witnesses for 62 years. May enjoyed teaching people the bible. How happy she was when she helped her mother and sisters to see how serious it is to have a good name with God. So they dedicated their lives to Him. In her door to door ministry she also helped people to get an accurate knowledge of God and Jesus Christ his only begotten son as found in John 17:3. As for her secular work, she was a barber. After practicing on her husband and son for 15 years she loved it so much, she went to barber school. After a 1000 hour course she finished it in 1959 and got her Master Barber License for Virginia and opened her first shop on Thayer Street in Chesterfield Heights in the 1960s. Then to Lafayette Boulevard and Chesapeake Boulevard. She was often amused when more than one man would come into her shop and see a woman barber. When they would go home their wives would say, "Who cut your hair?" Answer, a woman barber. The next time the wife would come in and tell her, "It was the best haircut he ever had." Word got around. Finally, in 1985 she had to give up barbering because of a torn rotator cuff that could not be repaired. She is survived by her son, Ronald R. Johnson and wife Emma; two sisters, Louise McCormack of Escondido, Calif., and Ruby Asbury and husband John of San Diego. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 15, at 2 p.m. at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 3662 Humboldt St., Norfolk VA 23513. You may pay your condolences at www.smithandwilliamsnorfolk.com.