Vivian Louise Cammack

Vivian Louise Cammack (Johnson) was born on March 3rd, 1940 to Joseph Edingburgh Johnson Sr. and Bertha Elizabeth Johnson (Baltimore) in Washington, D.C. The third of six children, she grew up in Northeast Washington, D.C. the happy child of a close-knit family. She graduated from Cardozo High School in June of 1957 and married Burdette Cammack on October 19th, 1957. She had known him since junior high school. Within two years, they welcomed their first son, Everett, who they affectionately called "Pumpkin Head." Their second son, Darnell, joined them seven years later and their family was complete. While raising her boys, Vivian worked for the federal government in the Army Map Service of the US Army Corps of Engineers and then for the Federal City College. Federal City College later combined with two other higher education institutes to become the University of the District of Columbia. She worked in the Office of the Registrar. She enjoyed her work, but was forced to retire prematurely when she was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, a chronic neuromuscular illness that would continue to plague her for the rest of her life. Vivian was close to her family and became extremely close with her sister-in-law Doris. She was also fond of her sisters-in-law, Sheldon and Olivia, and brother-in-law Bill, each of whom predeceased her and were waiting for her in heaven. She loved and enjoyed talking to and being with her mother-in-law Mrs. Olivia Cammack. Vivian was friends with Doris prior to she and Burdette marrying and were close even on her day of passing. Despite suffering from a variety of health-related concerns, Vivian maintained a sense of joy and purpose to her life. She was steadfast in her devotion to her family and in her faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Vivian as described by her siblings was a lovely, beautiful little girl. She was considered very precious and beloved by family members, friends and elders. Elders loved her because she was so mannerly and intelligent and passed those characteristics on to her children and grandchildren. Especially fond of her during her early childhood were several neighborhood families that included her godmother, Mrs. Jenkins and family of which she spent many outings. In elementary school, Vivian was involved with the Maypole/May Day ceremony which was held every year in May. She loved to dress up in her new white dress and accessories and perform in the celebration. One of her favorite things was jump roping of which she was excellent and she considered herself the "Double Dutch Queen." Vivian was super intelligent. At a very young age, she loved to read Shakespeare and loved to recite quotes from Shakespeare, Langston Hughes and other poets. One of her favorite Shakespeare plays was "Romeo and Juliet." Vivian was so smart she skipped a grade and probably would have skipped another but her parents would not let her. She was a stickler for proper grammar and spelling and would not hesitate in correcting anyone in the family that happened to use improper grammar near her. If you asked her how to spell a word, she would send you to a dictionary to find the word, then you would have to spell it and give her the definition. This too was passed on to her grandchildren. Vivian attended Lovejoy Elementary School, Elliott Junior High School and Cardoza High School of which she graduated one year early. During her high school years, she forged long lasting friendships with Cynthia, Dora, Darlene, Joyce, Marjorie and Imogene. She was also very close with her cousins Joan, Laverne and Charlotte. Vivian took ballet and modern dance growing up and performed in recitals around Washington, D.C. She sang in the children's choir at Lane C.M.E. Church and became the President of the Junior Usher Board. Vivian sang in the "Johnson Trio" with her older sister and brother, Wilnette and Bobby at Lane and other churches. She attended the Moses Lodge (which is similar to the Masons) with her sister Wilnette and her Grandmother Mary Lancaster and/or Mrs. Tribbet of Lane C.M.E. Church. After church on Sundays, she loved taking the trolley and bus with her sister Wilnette to visit friends. Vivian had a strong faith in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and throughout her life was an avid reader of the Gospel. Her faith was evident throughout her life and would be the strength she needed as her years passed. Some of her favorite scriptures are Psalms 23, 121 and 123. When in times of stress and/or joy she would recite the Lord's Prayer and Our Father which would bring calm to the moment. Vivian was an avid fan of music and passed that love of music on to her sons Everett and Darnell often listening to various types of music daily from classical, gospel, jazz and current works. When she was young and the family got their first "wind up" record player, she used to love taking it outside and playing 78 rpm records for the neighborhood. One of her favorite artist Johnny Mathias was often heard in the home with her favorite song being "Chances Are." She was also fond of songs by Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers. Beethoven, Mozart and others were always a soothing presence in the home. She loved attending operas, symphonies and plays and was a contributor to many arts and learning institutions to include the Kennedy Center. There were many visits to museums especially the Smithsonian Institutes in Washington, D.C. as regular outings for the family. Other hobbies Vivian enjoyed were travelling, playing board games, reading, studying history, roller skating, modern dancing and playing pinochle. Vivian was always considered an eloquent and classy dresser throughout her life starting as a teenager, she loved her cashmere sweaters, pleated skirts and bobbysox. Vivian always had a strong leadership personality and she was a take charge person. Some of her proudest family moments were when she was helping family members (siblings, nieces, nephews, etc.), get into schools and obtain jobs. She also helped friends and their families do the same. She was always on the lookout for opportunities and she would pass them on to those she believed needed the information. In order to assist others Vivian volunteered her services at different schools in the Montgomery County Public School District. Some her most precious blessings were her grandchildren, Sean, Nigel, Justin, Morgan, Delon, and Shawnasee, who all adored her just as much as she did them. They loved spending weekends with Mamma, as she was known. She passed on important life lessons, from the small things (don't ever wear white socks with a suit), to the big things. Vivian made sure her grandchildren never forgot their history or where they came from, and she taught them that all people were deserving of respect and compassion, regardless of their differences. As well as being close with her children, she was also very fond of her nieces and nephews and would celebrate and talk about their families and accomplishments with great joy and pride. She truly loved all her family, a quite large one, and believed we should all know each other. In 2013, she was diagnosed with the cancer that would eventually claim her life. In true Vivian fashion, she faced her new reality head on with grace, dignity, strength, optimism, and as always, with faith that God would see her through. Whenever she was asked how she was doing she would respond "I am doing just fine." That attitude and faith allowed her to outlast predictions of her departure of eighteen months. She fought every day for over four years, until she finally went home to her Lord on September 28, 2017. Vivian had many close friends and would have loved to note two of the many which where Mrs. Olu Adeyemi and Renate Brown. She and Mrs. Adeyemi had been very close since the early 1980s and remained close to present. Renate who had become like family was at the Cammack home on a regular basis, providing meals and support to both Vivian and Burdette during the last few years of which she is greatly loved and appreciated for being a forever friend. Vivian is survived by her beloved husband, Burdette; Sister-In-Law, Doris; her sons, Everett (Terry) and Darnell (Maria); her siblings, Robert, Wilnette, Arlene, Janet, and Joseph; her sisters-In-Law Portia and Cynthia and Brother-In-Law Floyd; her grandchildren, Sean, Nigel, Justin, Morgan (mother Beverley), Delon, and Shawnassee (mother Martha) and step-grandchildren Ryan and Kelly as well as the most recent joys of her life, her great-grandchildren, Brendan, Kaliyah, Arianna, Ashton, and Brooks and step-grandchildren Kierra, Kelsey and Micah. Her family will miss her and grieve her loss; however, they take heart that she is no longer in pain and has been reunited with Joe and Bertha Bright and the many family members that were waiting for her in Heaven.