Genell Johnson passed suddenly from this life on the evening of November 24, 2021. She was preceded in death by parents, John Thomas (J.T.) and Margaret Faye (Sheid) Crawford, and stepmother, Helen (Wooten) Dawson Crawford.
Survived by husband of almost 63 years, W. Talmadge Johnson of Nashville, and sister, Faye Crawford Jones (husband, Duane Jones) of Franklin, TN; sons, Michael (wife, Sarah) of Old Hickory, TN, and Jeffrey (wife, Julie) of Houston, TX; grandchildren, Chad Johnson (wife, Amy, and son, Reston) of Salisbury, MD, Brian Johnson (wife, Ashley, son, Braden, daughters, Tenley, Lynnon, and Hazel) of Sharpsburg, GA, and James Austin Johnson (wife, Rebekah) of New York City, Jenae Johnson Kiser (husband, Preston, daughters, Ava and Indie) of Houston, TX, and Jana Johnson Daniels (husband, Zach, and son, Wyatt) of Ashland, KY.
Genell was graduated from Sherman (TX) High School in 1954. Her father was a long-time pastor in the Church of the Nazarene and Genell was familiar with the Nazarene college in Bethany, Oklahoma, now known as Southern Nazarene University. While there she traveled in a women’s trio singing in churches throughout Oklahoma and Texas, in particular. It was at Bethany that she met and later married Talmadge. She was the homecoming queen and he was the student body president. Upon graduation from college in 1958, Genell taught school for one year in Oklahoma City and Talmadge embarked on a journey as an itinerant evangelist.
When son, Michael, was born in 1960, Genell followed Talmadge into a new calling as pastor and first lady of the Church of the Nazarene in Elk City, Oklahoma, where son, Jeffrey, was born in 1963. The family moved to Oklahoma City as founding pastor of the Western Oaks Church of the Nazarene in 1965 where they served for almost 10 years.
In 1975, Talmadge was called to be the district superintendent in Mississippi, where Genell endeared herself to people in churches across the state, frequently playing the organ at Jackson First Nazarene as well as providing special music in the churches they visited. She and Talmadge were especially close to Charles and Shirley Johnson of the Fitkin’s Memorial Church of the Nazarene.
Five years later, the Johnsons moved to Nashville, when Talmadge became superintendent of the Tennessee District. Over the next 14 years, Genell fell in love with Nashville, especially the shops in Green Hills, and Dickson County where the family invested in Camp Garner Creek, the Nazarene camp and retreat center.
In 1994, Genell followed Talmadge to the Kansas City area to a new calling as Sunday School Ministries director for the next seven years, and then four years as general superintendent before retiring (officially) in 2005. These assignments allowed her to combine her many years of work with Nazarene Missions International with a love of travel around the world.
Genell’s gift for hospitality was legendary. Her culinary skills were significant. Her amazing musicianship was both inborn and cathartic for her, and a wonderful blessing for all who heard it. And her sense of style combined just the right blend of taste and sass.
Perhaps her greatest attribute beyond her devotion to God, was her wide-open, deeply-loving sense of warmth for all who encountered her. Her smile was natural and genuine and infectious. Her hugs were tight and enveloping. She and her winsome spirit will be missed! Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Johnson family at HibbettHaileyFH.com.
