Velma “Polly” Johnson was born May 30, 1955, to Hermon and Mary (Rice) Johnson in Stanton, Tennessee, the sixth of nine children. Polly’s older brother Cecil is credited for her nickname, asking if he could hold “Miss Polly” when she was a baby. In junior high, she received Jesus as Lord and Savior at Southern Heights Baptist Church. She was a member of Wings of Deliverance Church.

Velma loved cooking, traveling, reading, writing, bowling, and encouraging others. She enjoyed being with family and friends. Although Velma did not have any children, she treated her nieces and nephews as if they were her own.

After graduating from Snider High School, she attended Ivy Tech Community College. Going on to work at Lutheran Hospital and Miller’s Merry Manor, she chose to step back from her career to help care for her ill mother.

Velma will be missed for her glowing smile, thoughtfulness, and inspiration to others. She was sincere and genuine, with the tenacity to learn and win, becoming competitive when she played games with her siblings. She loved reading her bible, praising God and spending time in His presence. She could always be found in her home praising the Lord and studying the Word.

God has said to her “Well done good and faithful servant, you can come on home now.”

She was preceded in death by parents Hermon and Mary Johnson, brother Cecil Johnson, nephew Leon Maurice Wade, niece April Latoya Wade-Bowen and great-nephew Jelan Whitten-Strother. She is survived by seven siblings; Jimmy Johnson, Eddie (Martha) Johnson; Willie Mae Wade, Betty Johnson, Jackie Jamison, and Jeanette (Angelo) Strother of Fort Wayne and Peggy (Glenn) Bennett of Chicago, IL, Sister in-law; Deanie Bright Johnson and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins across the country.