Mrs. Johnnie Mae Wilson (February 17, 2010)
	Service:	Mt. Sinai Seventh Day Adventist Church 11:30 AM Wednesday 02-24-2010 2600 Orange Center Blvd Orlando, Florida 32805
	Visitation:	Mitchell's Funeral Home 3-6 pm Tuesday, February 23 501 Fairvilla Road Orlando, Florida 32808
	Cemetery:	Washington Park Cemetery Orlando, Florida 32811

The Heavenly Angels Await
May 9, 1921 Johnnie Mae Wilson February 17, 2010

Johnnie Mae Wilson was a lover of flowers. Her lawn had to be immaculate, for if it was not, she was uneasy and could not rest. The beauty of her azalea bushes when they bloomed was her delight, and the tenderness with which she cared for them and watered them gave her life joy and purpose.

Life as a Garden serves as a fitting metaphor for Johnnie Mae’s beautiful life. Just as it is amazing how God transforms a garden’s beauty throughout all 4 of its seasons, so, too, did the Creator permit wonders of His character to be revealed in the beautiful Life Garden of Johnnie Mae’s life throughout all her seasons.

Oris and Mae Bell White tended the garden in which their “seeds” blossomed in order: First came Oris, Jr., followed by Jesse, Sherman, Mittie, and finally, precious Johnnie Mae, who arrived on May 9, 1921, a fine Spring day in Dothan, Alabama. Johnnie Mae shared stories with her children of how she and her brothers and sister would wake up in the early morning dew, sit in the green fields, then crack open a watermelon and enjoy its juiciness as they laughed and played together. She joyfully recalled how she and her sister Mittie would climb tall hills and watch people go by as they shared their dreams for the future. When Johnnie Mae was in high school her favorite activity was basketball, and when those years ended she went on to become a nurse. Oris and Mae’s youngest “seedling” was well on her way!

In the Summer season of Johnnie Mae’s Life Garden, God planted her alongside a husband, Eddie Rivers, the father of three of her seedlings, Edye Rivers Long, Johnny Rivers, and Caroline Rivers Boynton. Abundant joy came to Johnnie Mae’s life as she watched her children grow and flourish. What happiness to be the mother of children!

Winter entered Johnnie Mae’s life as her marriage ended in 1951, and her Garden was tested by evils of pests and weeds, thunderstorms, high winds and scorching days of pain – pain which could destroy any garden except one planted deep in the soul by the Great Garden Keeper himself, Jesus Christ. Cold blasts continued to blow from time to time, as in 1995 she lost her first born seed, Edye. In other wintry seasons she lost her siblings, Oris Jr, Jesse, Sherman (who faithfully cared for her gardens and lawn as long as he lived), and finally her sister, Mittie. Those were times in her Life Garden when life was hard and barren, and where in her heart, it seemed the leaves of her Life Tree had all fallen, and the plant of her soul was without flowers.

Praise God, however, for all the cycles, and for more Spring seasons in which God would renew joy for His child, Johnnie Mae! In 1955 God joined Johnnie Mae to her life-long companion, Eugene Gaston Wilson, and in their shared Life Garden precious new seeds were planted and blossomed: Vandeen Wilson Williams, Rod Wilson, and last-born son, Darrel Wilson, who never left her side. Isn’t it amazing that in our Creator the seasons may appear to be harsh or out of order, but HALLELUJAH! – He brings forth the beauty each in His time!!

Johnnie Mae maintained many interests and loves. She LOVED garage sales and collecting ‘antiques’. As a matter of fact, she loved this hobby so much that her children had to buy a storage unit and place it in her backyard to store all her collectibles! There was a time when her children decided there was no more room for her collections, so with a little girl’s mischievousness, Johnnie Mae found ‘hiding places’ for her most valuable collections. Among other loves and talents, Johnnie Mae also loved to read, do crossword puzzles, and shop for clothes, hats, and shoes. Always, though, most important and most precious, was the watering and feeding of her children and grandchildren-- her living Seeds and Seedlings -- in family picnics, family worships, and in the daily phone conversations nurturing each and every seed.

Johnnie Mae experienced Fall days in which she knew that her health was failing. Although her beloved children often insisted that she not go into her garden alone, she had another mischievous secret which she shared in a whisper of giggles -- of how she would get up early in the morning while they were still sleep, slip out into her back yard, water her flowers and trees, then slip back in before they awakened! Even in the Fall of our lives, when we love the Lord as Johnnie Mae did, there is joy and purpose in living. She knew she must still provide for the needs of her garden, and she was not absorbed in pity for herself. Are you in the Fall of your life with challenges or bad health? Are you still tending God’s garden entrusted to you?

In one of her last days, as son Darrel tenderly lifted his Mother and placed her in her bed -- with the same sparkle in her eyes as when she watered her garden, or saw a good bargain at a garage sale, or beautiful shoes, or a hat that she loved, or with the joy she had when she saw the first bloom on her azalea trees or rose bushes -- she said,

“I am so blessed!
My Jesus loves
me so much and will never leave me!
He is always with me and I love Him so much!

These are the words that will forever resonate in our hearts, and the legacy we will continue to treasure from the Life Garden of Johnnie Mae Wilson, who has been for us a cherished Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Aunt, Best Friend and Spiritual Mentor. We pray that you leave with peace in your soul today and encouragement in your heart, able to see your life as a Beautiful Garden tended by your Savior in which you, too, may find nurture and support for all seasons of your life.

She leaves to honor her life, her loving and devoted children: Edya Long (deceased), son, Todd Long, daughter, Daphany Long, son, Jeyghson Long, with seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Johnny Rivers, son, Johnny Rivers, Jr., son, Dwain Rivers, son, Djuan Rivers, daughter, Tanya Hayes, son, Justin Rivers, son, Robert Rivers with eight grandchildren.

Carolyn Rivers-Boynton, son, Patrick Wright, daughter, Kimberly Morris, son, Rodney Wright, son, Corey Wright, daughter, Bridgett Wright, son, Brian Bethel, son, Greg Wright, with twenty-one grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Vandean Williams, son, Cedrick Williams with one grandchild.

Eugene Wilson, Jr., son, Avery Wilson, Marcus Wilson with one grandchild.

Darrel Wilson

And a host of other relatives and many sorrowing friends who will greatly miss her