When Nettie Johnson was born in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, the recording of Negro births was less than precise. She was the third child born to Chester Coleman and Sedora Hemphill Coleman. The birth date she used most of her life was October 14, 1947. She learned in 2017
that her recorded birthdate is October 10, 1947. She was the middle child in birth order, with her older brother, Chester Lee Billy Coleman, and her sister, Geneva Coleman.

She graduated from West District High School, serving as Senior Class President and as Miss West District High. She graduated just before her 16th birthday in 1964. She attended Alcorn A&M College in Lorman, Mississippi, and graduated when she was 19 years old with a BS in
Home Economics in 1967. During her time at Alcorn, she met Charles Johnson, Jr. in 1965. They were married on June 3, 1967, about 10 weeks
before she graduated in August 1967. To this union were born two children, Sharlotte Annette (1969) and Charles III (1975).

She believed in the value of education and encouraged her spouse and children to seek advanced degrees. She earned a master's in educational administration from East Texas State University. Her career in food service administration spanned several decades with tenures at Central State University and Wilberforce University in Ohio, as well as time spent in the San Antonio School District as a
Food Service Administrator. She retired from the Dallas Independent School District with time in school food services and Human Resources Administration. For years following her retirement, she served several Texas School Districts as a consultant for Region 7. After retirement, Nettie became the owner of Excellence Unlimited. Taking her gift of teaching, mentoring, and empowering to another level, Nettie selflessly and
intentionally made giving and serving her moniker. As a consultant, Nettie was selected to spearhead various food service certification trainings from Mississippi to Alaska.

She loved her work, but she loved people more. While a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Dallas, she was instrumental in encouraging several churches to come together to serve the needs of the children in that community. Nettie was inducted into the lifelong sisterhood of Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in the spring of 1986. Through her work, service, and pure determination, Nettie helped to establish the Joy Woodfork Salon through the Dallas Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Nettie loved her sorority and held several positions during her
membership. She was a Delta Dear, a giver, and routinely gathered and distributed clothing and school supplies to families in need. She made everyone around her better. Even with numerous accolades, Nettie would tell you that her favorite and most important career was that of
Mother, Wife, Nana, and Mama J. Mostly, she was a phenomenal mother. She loved her children unconditionally and constantly encouraged
them to strive for excellence. Nothing pleased her more than seeing the joy on the faces of people at the dining table enjoying her food preparations. Whenever anyone in her circles needed help preparing food for an event, she was the first one to be recruited.
She was selfless. If you walked through her house, you would see the accomplishments of her children and her husband, but very little about her. Her joy was the joy of her family and friends.

Nettie is preceded in death by her mother, Sedora Hemphill Coleman; her father, Chester Lee Coleman (Sheila Hodges Coleman); her brother, Chester Lee Coleman; her sister, Geneva Coleman; and her aunts and uncles.

Nettie is survived by her beloved husband of 57 years, Charles Edward Johnson, Jr.; her daughter, Sharlotte "Shay" Johnson; her son, Charles Edward Johnson, III (Teasha Bland Johnson); one granddaughter, Makayla Ayanna Young; two grandsons, William Charles Peoples
and Gabriel Ethan Johnson; and one great-grandson, Skylar Alexander Young.

Beloved by so many, memories of Nettie will live on in the hearts and minds of close friends, Henry Smith and Doris Hinch