Sylvester Johnson was born in Widham, Texas on June 7, 1926, to Eva and Jim James Johnson. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mamie Franklin.
Sylvester accepted Christ as his Lord and Saviour early in life and was a devoted member of the Church of Christ East Main for many years and then the Church of Christ McLish Avenue.
His family moved to Oklahoma at an early age, and he attended area schools and later joined the U.S. Navy where he served in WWII in Japan. He married Stella Baldwin in 1945, and to this union seven children were born. He worked in several capacities as an auto mechanic in Temple, Okla., and as a janitor at Stromberg-Carlson for 23 years. He was a rancher for many years also, but his profession was “Shoe Shine.” He started shining shoes when he was 11 years old for five cents a pair. He worked on Main St. downtown Ardmore, Mountain View Mall, and the Walmart Supercenter. Sylvester was well known and loved, not only in Ardmore, but throughout the state. He never met a stranger, and that’s how he met Debra Kaye. They were married in September 1996, and he got an extended family of six brothers-in-law and a sister-in-law.
“Syl” loved the outdoors and had several interests and as a rancher, this included raising horses, mules and cattle. He also loved to go deer hunting. He enjoyed family gatherings, and he loved to eat his wife’s cooking. He will always be lovingly remembered by his family and friends and everyone that knew him...Syl touched the lives of many people.
Sylvester passed from death to glory at 4:47 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, at Mercy Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family.
He leaves to cherish his memory a devoted wife, Debra K. Johnson; one sister, Thelma Stevens (Robert) of Oklahoma City; two brothers, Henry and Theodore Epps, both of Ardmore; six daughters, Juanita Booker of Temple, Okla., Jeneva Johnson and Helen Walker (Ronnie), both of Ardmore, Verna “Punkin” Phillips (Johnny) and Bertha “Peaches” Stewart (L.C.), both of Lawton and Barbara Traylor of Tacoma, Wash.; two sons, Eugene Johnson (Diane) of Temple and Derrick Smith of Dallas; 15 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren; a special nephew, Stoney Jackson (Diane) of Moore, Okla.; and a special niece, Christine Whatley (Henry) of Temple; and numerous nieces, nephews and god-children, extended family and friends.
Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, at the First Baptist Church, 225 1st St. SW, with Pastor Dr. Alton Fannin officiating.
Condolences may be left at cheryl-hamilton@att.net.
