Lubertha was born in Clearview, OK to Clyde Sr. and Izora James on June 25, 1923. She grew up and attended school in Wewoka, OK where she graduated from Douglas High School in the Class of 1941. She went on to attend and graduate from Langston A&M University in 1945 with a Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics. She also attended Iowa State University for a summer session course. Lubertha graduated from Bertha’s Beauty School, Wewoka, OK on August 20, 1958 and was a licensed cosmetologist and the owner and operator of “The Beauty Box” hair salon in Enid, OK for many years. She studied and earned her Master of Science degree in Curriculum with special emphasis in Remedial Reading and Remedial Math from Oklahoma State University. She taught for almost 30 years in various towns throughout Oklahoma to include Holdenville, Ponca City, Perry, Shawnee and Enid. She also taught at Sierra Grande High School, Blanca, CO from 1964-1965. Her teaching career with the Enid Public School District began in 1966. Lubertha taught at Carver, Garfield, Cleveland, Taft and Eisenhower Elementary schools. She also provided an after school tutoring program at Carver Elementary in the latter part of the 1970’s. She retired from teaching in 1986 to care for her mother. Lubertha was a faithful and devoted child of God. She was a member of First Baptist Missionary Baptist Church, Enid, OK until June 2018 when she moved to Tampa, FL to live with her daughter, Arthita and son-in-law, Larry Smith where she was a member of No Greater Love Baptist Church. Lubertha was a 23 year cancer survivor.
Lubertha is preceded in death by her parents, Clyde Sr. and Izora James, two brothers, Clyde James Jr. and Herman James, her daughter, Janice K. Woody and her grandson, Austin L. Smith.
Lubertha is survived by her son, Willard J. Tillman, Sr. (Virginia) of Forest Park, OK, her daughter, Arthita L. Smith (Larry) of Tampa, FL,; grandsons: Willard J. Tillman, Jr. (Charmetres), OKC, OK; Changa B. Mukasa (OKC, OK), Alexander R. Smith (Logan), Jacksonville, FL; granddaughters: Janelle Tillman (Norman, OK); Tracey K. Tillman-Zodoq-El (OKC, OK); Rachelle Tillman (Houston, TX); several great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins who loved her dearly.
A viewing will be held Thursday, February 10, 2022 at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, 6802 Silvermill Dr., Tampa, FL 33635 at 6:00-8:00 PM. Funeral services will be Friday, February 11, 2022 at No Greater Love Baptist Church, 3015 S. 75th St., Tampa, FL 33619 at 2:00 PM with Pastor Larry J. Mouton, Jr. officiating. A second service will be held on Friday, February 18, 2022 at First Missionary Baptist Church, 467 E. Owen K. Garriott Rd., Enid, OK 73701 at 11:00 AM with Pastor Wilbur Flynn officiating. Burial will be on Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Westwood Cemetery, Wewoka, OK at 11:00 AM with Pastor Clarence Provost officiating. Arrangements provided by Blount & Curry Funeral Home, Tampa, FL and Resthaven Funeral Home, Shawnee, OK.
Donations can be made in her honor to the Alzheimer’s Foundation in lieu of flowers.
With sincere and deep appreciation, the family of Lubertha Anita Johnson wishes to extend our sincere thanks to our friends and church family for your love, prayers, cards, calls, texts, flowers, visits and all other expressions of kindness during this time. A special thank you to Percy Bracamonte, MD and staff, Jaime’s Adult Day Center and staff, Lifepath Hospice and Right at Home of Tampa. May God richly bless and keep you.
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