Our Beloved MaDea

Mary Kate "MaDea" Johnson was born February 9, 1925 in Brown, Alabama.  She was the daughter of the late Isarel and Corine (Hood) Paige.

She accepted Christ at an early age and baptized at Woodlawn Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown, Alabama.

Upon arriving in Fort Wayne, in 1952, she united with Pilgrim Baptist Church under leadership of the late Rev. John Dixie.  She would later move her membership to Providence Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. Calvin Howell Sr. where she was an active member of the Senior Women's Choir, Missionary Department and Pastor's Aide. She was attending Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church until her health began to decline.

MaDea as she was fondly called worked for the Van Armor Hotel and retired from Fort Wayne State Developmental Center in 1981 after 19 years of service.

On Thursday, July 21, 2016, God whispered her name and she answered, "Yes Lord" at Parkview Regional Medical Center with her family standing by her side.

  Proverbs 31:10 states, Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.  MaDea was an example of a virtuous woman.  While raising, providing and caring for her own children, she opened her loving arms and home to her beloved stepchildren, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and anyone in need. In her free time she enjoyed gardening and planting flowers.

She was also preceded in death by her stepchildren, Clarence Johnson Jr., Ida M. Barnfield and Doretha Coleman; grandsons, Anthony Johnson, Alfonso Coleman and Edward Coleman; sisters, Bea Chapman, Pearlie Fincher, Sallie Sanders, Henretta Baylor, Cora Holmes, Leila Morton, Martha Johnson-Hilliard; brothers, Israel Paige, Snider Paige, Cleveland Paige, Solomon Taylor, Arthur Paige, Leroy Paige and former husband, Clarence Johnson.

Left to cherish her loving memory includes, her children, Milton (Bettye) Johnson, Velma (Emmitt) Smith, Beatrice Carlisle, Stanley Johnson, James (Princella) Johnson, Mary (Patrick) Cobbins and Michael (Carla) Johnson; brother, Frank (Lola) Page; 24 grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren, nine great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends.

MaDea will be laid to rest in Highland Park Cemetery

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