Inez Johnson

Inez C. Johnson PORTSMOUTH - Inez C. Johnson, 84, departed this life Oct. 1, 2008, at Bay Pointe Medical and Rehabilitation Center, Virginia Beach. A lifelong resident of Portsmouth, she was the widow of Brooks H. Jackson and John F. Johnson. As a 36-year educator in the Portsmouth public school system, she lovingly nurtured the minds of the world's most talented, best and brightest. In her early teaching career, she also directed the George Peabody School Chorus. Her earliest students will remember her as Miss Crump. Others will fondly remember her as Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Darden or Mrs. Johnson. Still others may remember her as the teacher having a beautiful smile with a front-tooth gap. Mrs. Johnson served God through her love of church, family and community. She was a 1941 graduate of I.C. Norcom High School and received a bachelor's of arts degree from Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C. She was a member of the Independent Order of Tents, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and the founder of the Jills Social Club. She was among the first volunteers of the Brighton Prentis Park Neighborhood Patrol. She leaves to cherish her precious legacy an only child, Miriam Jackson Jiggetts; her stepchildren, Dr. Juanita Jackson High, Walter Jr., Geraldine, Yvonne, Marie and Shaverly Darden, Shirley Johnson Askew, Maxine Johnson Fitchett and Elder James W. Johnson; a cousin who was like a son, Leslie Kernel (Bleke) Harris; goddaughter, Barbara Brown Watford; 17 grandchildren including Dante' Augustus Jiggetts; many great-grandchildren including Damian Odell DaJante and Dania Avette Jiggetts; and many devoted friends and family members of Vines, Crumps and Whites mourn her loss including her aunts, Pearl Crump Smith of Portsmouth and Emma Crump of New Jersey. She was predeceased by her grandson, Damian Odell Jiggetts. Homegoing services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in New St. Thomas Baptist Church, 2700 Elm Ave., Portsmouth, with pastor Johnnie J. Drake officiating. Family and friends will assemble at 2620 Roanoke Ave., Portsmouth, one hour prior to the procession. Arrangements are being handled by Corprew Funeral Home, Portsmouth. Entombment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Chesapeake.