Mrs. Mary Lawrence Johnson

With heartfelt sympathy, Mitchell-Josey Funeral Home, Inc, and members of the Johnson family announce the passing of Mrs. Mary Lawrence Johnson, formerly of Darlington, SC. Mrs. Johnson transitioned peacefully in her home on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Florence, SC.

The family will be receiving friends on Saturday, May 2, 2026, and Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the residence at 1543 Bridgewood Dr, Unit 2, Florence, SC.

Public viewing will be held 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Friday, May 8, 2026, at Mitchell-Josey Funeral Home, Inc., 612 S Main St, Darlington, SC.

Funeral services will be held 12:00 PM noon, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Mt Zion Baptist Church, 3208 N Governor Williams Hwy, Darlington, SC. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Eulogy

“Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” ~Psalm 90:10-12

The Life, The Love, The Legacy

    Mary Louise Lawrence Johnson was born on December 27, 1944, to Melvin Lawrence and Annie Lou Cotton in the Dovesville community of Darlington County, South Carolina. On Wednesday, April 28, 2026, Mary Louise Lawrence Johnson entered into eternal rest.

      Reared by her paternal grandmother, Rosa Lawrence, Mary was educated in the Darlington Public School System and accepted Christ at an early age at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church. In the early 1960s, she moved to New York and earned her certification as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA). She began her career as a private-duty CNA, then transitioned to a position at Coney Island Hospital (NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health), where she worked from 1973 to 1987.

      On July 20, 1979, she married Lenwood Grimes of Brooklyn, New York. They were married nearly a decade. After his death, Mary then moved back to the Dovesville area to care for her grandmother. During this time, she continued to fulfill her calling and serve as a private duty CNA. Just after celebrating her 50th birthday, she married Willie Lee “Conrad” Johnson of Darlington on December 28, 1994, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Together they served as Deacon and Deaconess at Christ Temple Holiness Church. They also organized and facilitated a weekly Bible study class at the local Fitness World gym in Darlington. Mary served God in many capacities, including serving as a missionary. Throughout her visits with her daughter, she also enjoyed participating in the Monday night online small group Bible study class affiliated with Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church (Sumter).

      During her time on this side of heaven, Mary Louise Lawrence Johnson was known by many names, including “Mrs. Mary”, “Big Mary,” “Cousin Mary, “Aunt Mary,” and “mom”. But she was most affectionately known as “Nana”. She enjoyed being called“Nana” by everyone, even when those calling on her were not her grandchildren. She will forever be known as a God-fearing woman with a kind heart and jovial spirit. Nana never met a stranger and enjoyed the thrill of a good, long conversation, no matter the topic.

      Mary Louise Lawrence Johnson is preceded in death by her beloved son, James Edward “Jimmy” Lawrence, and her cherished husband, Willie Lee “Conrad” Johnson; sisters, Margaret Singletary and Rose Lee Singletary; and brothers, Alexander Wright, Freddy (Gail) Wright, and Roosevelt Cotton.

      She leaves behind to treasure her memory her daughter, Mary Lawrence Zimmerman (the late Robert LeRoy Zimmerman) of Sumter; her granddaughters, Racheal (Stephen) Mack of Irmo, and 2nd Lt Mackenzi Lawrencia Zimmerman of Sumter; her grandson, Robert-Lawrence (Indya) Zimmerman of Sumter; and her embraced grandsons, Bryan Davis of Augusta, Georgia and Corbyn “CJ” Zimmerman of Sumter South Carolina. Great-grandchildren, Spencer Mack, Elaina Mack, and Miles Mack of Irmo; sisters, Dolores Cody of Queens, New York, Diane Hayes of Brooklyn, New York, Melvina (Ronald) Glover of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, and Yulonda Jackson of Washington, D.C.; a brother, Melvin (Hattie) Lawrence of Brooklyn, New York.  A host of cousins (special among them):  Katina Williams of Dovesville, Mittie Rea Joint of Dovesville, Ilene Davis of Florence, Emma, Jaxon, and Jayla Lowery of Florence, Bobby “Dink” Brown of Florence. Numerous nieces and nephews (special among them, Tamatha Scott of Hartsville, South Carolina, and Pvt. 1st Class Corey Prescott, Fort Gordon, Augusta, GA). Endeared friends Pastor O’Neal Graham and Evangelist Annie Graham of Lake City, South Carolina, Ella Rivers Davis of Irmo, South Carolina, and Lucy Woodard of Sumter, South Carolina. An embraced son Antonio “Tony” Bates of Sumter, South Carolina, as well as many other family members and friends.

Please keep the family and friends of Mrs. Mary Lawrence Johnson in your thoughts and prayers. 

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