Rachel Johnson

Deaconess Rachel Johnson, daughter of the late Primus and Rosanna Singletary, was born on June 24, 1933 in Saint Stephens, South Carolina. She was the fifth oldest, out of twelve children. She entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, February 1, 2022.

Deaconess Rachel receive her education at Saint Stephens Elementary School and Saint Stephens High School in Berkeley County.

At a tender age, she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and joined Saint Stephens Baptist Church.

Deaconess Rachel was united in holy matrimony to James Johnson on July 28, 1954 and from that union they were blessed with three children, Gilbert, Bernard and Quinette.  They were married for 65 years, before the love of her life went home to be with the Lord.

After migrating to New York City,  Rachel and James joined Canaan Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Reverend E. M. Moore, where they served faithfully for many years.

Deaconess Rachel was employed by the New York City Board of Education in 1966, where she worked in the public school system for several years. She later worked as a home attendant in East Harlem until her retirement.

After her husband’s retirement from the New York City Transit Authority, they relocated to Florence, South Carolina in 1988 , where they found their new church home, joining New Ebenezer Baptist Church, where they served for 28 years.

Deaconess Rachel served as a Deaconess, who ministered alongside her husband, visiting the sick and shut in.  She also serviced on the church’s kitchen committee preparing meals and baking cakes for various church functions.  She loved to cook, clean and attend to her garden.  She also loved to share the fruits of her labor with family and friends.

Rachel was preceded in death by her parents, Primus and Rosanna; her loving husband, James; her eldest son, Gilbert; one brother, Herbert Singletary; six sisters, Angela Singletary, Sadie Mouzon, Agnes Rodgers, Rebecca Cooper, Georgia Mae Washington, and Ruby Jones Baker.

She leaves to cherish her precious memories, a son, Bernard “Bernie” (Jacquie) Johnson of Columbia, South Carolina; daughter, Quinette “Net” (Edwin) Serrano of Jersey City, New Jersey; one granddaughter, Ashia Johnson of Cary, North Carolina; one great-grand daughter, Alexis Freeman of Cary, North Carolina; one sister, Leona Bessent;  three brothers, Isaac Singletary of Saint Stephens, South Carolina, Roscoe (Leonisa) Singletary of Goose Creek, South Carolina, and Robert Lee (Yvonne) Singletary of Saint Stephens, South Carolina; one brother-in-law, Willie Mouzon of Winston Salem, North Carolina, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, church family, many many honorary family, and friends.

Please keep the family of Rachel Johnson in your thoughts and prayers