Mrs. Johnnie Mae Moss

Johnnie Mae Moss (Adams) entered this world on July 13, 1929, born 45 minutes after her twin brother John Jr. She accepted Christ at an early age and loved the Lord with all of her heart and served him until her home going on Friday, November 27, 2020.

Her formal education included graduation from Booker T. Washington High School, Dallas, TX, where she was a cheerleader and held the crown as “Miss Booker T. Washington”. She later attended Texas Wesleyan University where she majored in Business Administration.

As fate would have it, Johnnie Mae met Leander Bonaparte Moss, when they were just six and eight years old, at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, where Leander’s father Reverend Bonnie Malachi Moss served as pastor. This childhood friendship blossomed into a divine love, and they were formally married on July 6, 1947. Throughout this union, Johnnie Mae served as “First Lady”, as Reverend Leander Moss led presided over congregations at Olivet Missionary Baptist Church-Fort Worth, Texas; First Saint John Missionary Baptist Church-Fort Worth, Texas; Shiloh Baptist Church-Bryan, Texas; and Greater Emanuel Baptist Church-Dallas, Texas. Reverend Leander Moss and Johnnie Mae were later blessed with eight children, whom they loved very dearly.

Johnnie Mae was full of life, love, good cheer, and an excellent storyteller! Every year, she loved telling her birthday story, “I was born on Friday the 13th day of July, the 7th month of the year, my mother had twins, and we were born during the heart of the depression.” Mother loved to discuss was the fact that her paternal grandmother, Florence, was a full-blooded Cherokawa Indian from the hills of Atlanta, Georgia and her paternal grandfather was an Irishman.

Mrs. Moss was a servant leader and worked in the church as the Director of Christian Education where she received formal training through the Original West Texas District Baptist Association. She served as a Sunday School teacher, Bible School Director, choir member, and women’s missionary leader. She has served as the “Church Mother” for many years. One of her recent projects was the JM and L.B. Moss Charity Foundation. She loved giving to the sick and to the under privileged. She was a virtuous woman, devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, devout Christian and prayer warrior! Her favorite songs were, “Precious Lord Take My Hand”, “Amazing Grace” and “Oh Lord, I Want You to Help Me!”

Johnnie Mae Moss was preceded in death by her husband, Reverend Leander B. Moss; parents, Gladys Sims Adams and John Adams Sr; and brother, John Adams, Jr.

Memories of her will forever in the hearts of her family and friends. She leaves to celebrate her legacy of love, her children: Leander Moss, Jr.; Dr. Debra Moss-Boozer; Linda Moss-Foster; Rev. Reginald (Reggie) Moss; Andre Moss; Donna Moss; Derrick Moss; and Antoinnette Moss; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, a great-great grandson, caregiver, Sharon Harris, along with other relatives and friends.