Mr. Johnny "Smoke" Andrew Johnson, 51, died Sept. 2. Son of the late Charlie Maw Johnson Cosby and Rufus Allen, he was born April 25, 1957. He was raised by his loving step-father the late Mr. Willie Scott Cosby. His spiritual guidance was received at the New Hope Baptist Church from a very young age. He attended Newton County Public Schools. In 1977, he enlisted in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1980. A very hard worker, Johnny was employed by Golden State Foods and the Jet Corp until his health declined. In the late 1980's he was united in holy matrimony of Ms. Brenda Cobb. Although he already had two children of his own, be became a proud stepfather of a daughter whom he raised as his own. "Smoke," as he was affectionately called, was a loving person who loved spending time with his family and friends. He enjoyed playing the card game Spades, and was known as the "master Spade player." He was preceded in death by a sister, Patricia Cosby and six brothers - Terry Cosby, Joe Cosby, Bobby Walker, Mack Cosby and Bennie Justice-his grandmother, Johnny Lee Johnson and his aunt, Nellie Bentley.
He is survived by children, Ynethia Vonner, Jamal Terry and Tameka Marks; grandchildren, Asia, Kemaya and Shabria; brothers, Michael (Charlotte) Johnson, Billy (Ebony) Cosby, Willie Scott Cosby Jr., Robert (Alpha) Cook; sisters, Judy (Tony) White, Veronica Cosby and Deck, Teresa (Michael) Thomas, Isabella Burke, Pearl Lackey, Virginia Tolbert, Elizabeth Binion, Gracie (Ralph) Clark, Betty Clark, Willie Mae Cullins, Buieralla Benford, Earnestine Benford; aunt, Maggie Mae Smith; uncle, Curtis Johnson; special friends, Marcus Bell, Ronald Anderson, Chris Gibbs, Darnell Franklin, Dedric Hardeman, Gerald Perry, Barry Jordan and a host of nieces, nephews and other loving relatives and dear friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Johnson will take place at 2:30 p.m. today, Sept. 7 at New Beginning Full Gospel Ministries, Oxford with Pastor Willie Tigner Jr. officiating. Charles Ware, the Rev. Willie Smith and Felita Patterson will assist with the services. Interment will follow at Sims Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery.
The Covington News Sept. 7, 2008
