Southampton native Geraldine Darden Johnson died on December 14 at Southampton Hospital. She was 74.
Born in Southampton Hospital on February 8, 1935, to Alice Darden and Harrison Darden, she graduated from Bridgehampton High School in 1953.
In her youth, she was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bridgehampton, under the leadership of the late William T. Collins. She married Harrison Johnson Jr. in 1954 and had four children, Debra, Barbara, Alice and Harrison III. She worked as a nurse’s aid at Southampton Hospital for 38 years, retiring in 1997.
From the late 1950s through 1984, she was a member of the First Baptist Church of Southampton, serving as a member of the senior choir. Following her husband’s death, she rejoined the First Baptist Church of Bridgehampton and served faithfully as a deaconess, a member of the senior choir, the Sisterhood, and the Senior Missionary Ministries. She also participated in noon day Bible studies.
She is survived by her mother, Alice V. Darden of Southampton; three daughters, Debbie Johnson of Georgia, Barbara Leathers of North Carolina and Alice Young of Southampton; two brothers, Theodore Darden of Coram and Roosevelt Darden of Georgia; a sister, Frances Ford of Brooklyn; five granddaughters, Tymia Leathers, Lakesha Tenny, Nicole Young, Leleith Leathers and Monet Levy; two great-granddaughters, London Maddox and Madison Ellington; and a great-grandson, Tyrique Leathers-Stone.
She is also survived by three aunts, Mamie Johnson of Southampton, Sadie Goodwin of New Jersey, and Bessie Thomas of Maryland; her mother-in-law, Helen Johnson; five sisters-in-law, Barbara Turpin, Betty Johnson, Hazel Johnson, Yolanda Johnson and Mary Darden; three brothers-in-law, William “Sonny” Turpin, Donald Johnson and Brad Johnson; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The family received visitors on December 21 at the First Baptist Church of Bridgehampton, where a funeral service was held, with the Reverend Frank Bryant officiating. Interment followed at Calverton National Cemetery. Acting as pallbearers were Raymond Gilliam Jr., Anthony Gilliam, Paul George, Mark Johnson, Benny Franklin and David Johnson. Arrangements were under the direction of Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the First Baptist Church of Bridgehampton, P.O. Box 927, Bridgehampton, NY, 11932 would be appreciated by the family.
on Dec 22, 2009