Bernet McDowell Johnson

1926 - 2020

Bernet McDowell Johnson born October 1, 1926 to Parker and Evie McDowell in Gloster, Mississippi, entered into eternal rest on Sunday, March 29, 2020. She was 93 years old. Bernet, who is affectionately called Dear, by her children and grandchildren, matriculated through the public school systems of Mississippi and Louisiana and graduated from Southern University at Baton Rouge. After graduation, she devoted her life to educating children. From hiking and camping with Boy Scout Troop 185 to teaching elementary school students in Orleans Parish for over 20 years. Dear loved to mold young minds and they enjoyed her company. Dear accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age under the pastorship of her grandfather Rev. Isaac Simmons. While living briefly in Memphis Tennessee, she was filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues under the Pastorship of Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, founder of the Church of God in Christ. Soon thereafter, Dear moved to New Orleans and married Roosevelt "Ripoli" Johnson Sr. and to this union two sons were born, Roosevelt Johnson, Jr. and Jerry Lee Johnson. Dear loved church, choral music and sewing. She was very active in ministry under the pastorship of her father-in-law Rev. R. Johnson. Rev. Johnson pastored two churches, one in the lower ninth Ward of New Orleans, Mercy Seat Baptist Church and Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Sorrento, Louisiana. In these ministries, Dear served as the pianist and choral director as well as the seamstress in sewing all of the choir member robes. After Rev. Johnson's passing, she became a member of Greater St. Stephen under the leadership of Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. While a member at Greater St. Stephen, she sang in the Voices of Faith, The Heritage Chorus, the Greater St. Stephen Mass Choir and was the pianist for Sunday School. Preceding her in death, her parents, Parker and Evie McDowell, two sons, John Johnson and Roosevelt Johnson, Jr., her granddaughter, Joni Johnson, her husband, Roosevelt "Ripoli" Johnson Sr., 3 brothers: Mack McDowell, Howard McDowell, & Felton McDowell and 3 sisters: Cleo McDowell-Williams, Donnis McDowell-Flagg, & Ottie McDowell-Akins. She leaves to cherish her memory: her children, Jerry Lee Johnson (Ethel) of Indiana, Linda Spiller (Wilbert) of California, Rodney Johnson Sr. (Carmen) of California, 2 brothers: Verrice McDowell, Thomas (Sandra) McDowell both of Illinois and 5 sisters: Ceola (Aden) McDowell-Smith, Mary McDowell-Moss both of Illinois, Ruth (Charles) McDowell-Williams of Georgia, Attie (Willis) McDowell-Newsome, Virgie McDowell both of Illinois; Ten grandchildren: Rev. Rodney Johnson, Jr. (Percilla) of Shreveport, Louisiana, Karen Johnson, Robert Johnson, Mark Spiller all of California, Ronald Johnson, Sr. (Ladonna), Adrian Johnson (Avis), Carl Johnson (Angela) of Jacksonville, Florida, Taresha Johnson of Tampa, Florida, Jori Johnson and Jared Johnson (Amber) of Woodbridge, Virginia; 18 great grandchildren; 6 great-great grandchildren and over seventy nieces and nephews. Due to COVID-19, the Funeral Service is private. Arrangements by D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Avenue. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the guestbook.