Johnnie Mae Tate Johnson

She accepted Christ early in her life and for over 50 years served at Rogers Memorial Baptist Church as an usher. Johnnie also served on the Kitchen Committee and Event Planning.

Johnnie loved to spend time with family and had a love for cooking. While living in Knoxville, Tennessee she was employed with UT Medical Center for many years. Later, she landed a Head Cook position at the Alex Haley Farm where she had the opportunity to cook for many high profile celebrities such as Danny Glover, Oprah and Snoop Dogg. She also volunteered as a server at The Knoxville College. Her joy for cooking and service to others inspired her to open Johnnie Mae's Snack Shop in 2010. As owner and operator she shared her famous Mac & Cheese, award winning fried fish and fried green tomatoes. In 2014 she retired and continued to serve her community and sharing her award winning recipes.

She is preceded in death by her parents; son, Norman Elgin; siblings, Shirley Tate Valentine Hoosier, Barbara Moore, Lorenzo Durham and Helen Truitt Cowherd.

She leaves to cherish her memory, daughter and caregiver, Sheila Guest, Jamie

(Terry) Welch, Avery Kyle, Gentania (Marcus) Jenkins of Indiana; devoted granddaughter, Ronisha (Standley) Beljour, grandchildren, Alicia Guest, Lucretta Elgin, Madasia Robinson, Jamia Smith, Ronald Smith, Jr., Dequan Collins of Florida, Broderick Davis, William McCoy Andalicia and Drake Icem, Dynasty and Marquashia Johnson of Indiana; devoted great grand daughter, Sharonda (Chase) Hardwick; special devoted friend, Charles Davenport and a host of great grandchildren nieces and nephews and cousins. A special thank you to the friends at Amedisys Hospice.

A visitation for Johnnie will be held Saturday, October 30, 2021 from 11:00am to 12:00pm at Berry Highland Memorial, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 with a funeral service to follow from at noon. A graveside service will be held at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery at 1pm.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.berryhighlandmemorial.com for the Johnson family.