Edna Rose (Graham) Johnson

Rose Graham Johnson, 90, formerly of Fairmont, died August 1, 2017 at her home in Tarboro. She was born in Rex Hospital in Raleigh on April 29, 1927 to Walter B. and Lucy Hunter Graham. She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, John L. (Jack) Johnson, and sister, Sue Mangum.

Rose grew up in Sampson County and graduated from Turkey High School at the top of her class, then went to Louisburg College and East Carolina Teachers College. On the same day as her college graduation, she married the man of her life, Jack. They were a team during their careers in education, he as principal and she as teacher until retirement. And ECU Pirate fans forever!

Rose was very interested in the local history of Fairmont and was historian of her church and active in the Border Belt Museum. She held leadership positions in Delta Kappa Gamma, Fairmont Woman’s Club, and was a Life Member of Presbyterian Women, and an Elder in First Presbyterian Church, Fairmont.

As a retired teacher, Rose enjoyed travel, art, wood carving, cooking, gardening, reading, friends and family. She spent the last few years of her life living in Tarboro with her daughter, Joy, enjoying good neighbors and St. James United Methodist Church friends.

She is survived by daughters, Rose Mary Walter of Virginia Beach, Joy McHone of Tarboro; grandchildren, James Walter of Virginia Beach, John McHone of Waynesville, Mary Van Staalduinen and husband Ben of Liberty; brother, Neill H. Graham and wife Betty of Richardson, TX; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Sam and Wiloree Johnson and Ben and Nancy Johnson of Raleigh; special cousins, and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on August 7, 2017 at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church located at 606 Church Street, Fairmont, NC 28340. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals-Greenville, 950 West Faris Rd. Greenville, SC 29605 or to Boys and Girls Home of North Carolina, 400 Flemington Dr. Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450, or a charity of your choice.

Local arrangements are being handled by Crumpler-Honeycutt Funeral Home, 118 Fayetteville Street, Clinton, North Carolina  28328.

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