Family and friends will celebrate the life of  Mrs. Johnnie Mae Jones "Ms. Johnnie" 71, of Spring, Texas on Saturday, May 6, 2023, 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Chisolm's Family Funeral Home in Killeen, Texas. Mrs. Jones passed away April 23, 2023, in Spring, Texas.

*In lieu of flowers please donate to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at pancan.org.

Repast will be held at Harker Heights Event Center 701 Edward Dr. Harker Heights, TX, from 2:30-4:00 p.m.

Services can be viewed via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4778772534?pwd=bzlFVEtxNXFMWGtTOUdadkFSWEpNdz09#success Meeting ID - 4778772534            Passcode - Jones

Johnnie Mae was born in Summerton, South Carolina on February 25, 1952 to John "Bubba" and Mollie Richardson Johnson.

Johnnie Mae was Bubba and Mollie's youngest of their three daughters. Velma was the oldest with Peggie in the middle. She grew up surrounded by family. Johnnie Mae was such a tomboy that she was lovingly called "Butch" as she climbed trees and helped her father around the farm. She made many memories with her family, but especially her older sisters. They had a tight bond and were known as the Johnson Girls.

Johnnie Mae attended Scott Branch elementary and junior high schools in Summerton, South Carolina. After completing junior high school, she moved to New York where she attended and graduated from Evander Childs High School in 1969.

Upon graduating from high school, Johnnie Mae met and married Bernard on August 21, 1971. Their matrimony whisked her away from her family when she became an army wife. She traveled the world as her husband was stationed in Ft. Benning, Georgia, where they met the Snells and the Stephens families; Pirmasens, German, where they met the Campbells; Ft. Campbell, Kentucky; Frankfurt, Germany where they met the Bullards; and Ft. Hood, Texas where they resided in Copperas Cove for over 20 years and where Johnnie Mae met two of her besties, Pat Hunter and Tangie Blackwell. All of their friends made being away from family a little easier, especially when they became a family of three when their daughter, Kettisha, was born in 1973.

Johnnie Mae maintained employment as the family moved around. She worked at a Sears Candy Counter in Ft. Benning and several years as an administrator for Martin Marietta, in Texas. In 1992, Johnnie Mae (Yetunde) and Bernard (Babatunde) founded Under One Roof Afrikan American Bookstore and Culture Shop in Copperas Cove and Killeen, Texas where she and Babatunde spent 17 years as successful entrepreneurs and were active in the Central Texas community. To share her love of reading, Johnnie Mae founded the Under One Roof Women's Book Club. Most customers respectfully called her "Ms. Johnnie" and knew she would quickly set them straight when they stepped out of line. She served as a "mother" away from home to many young customers who frequently visited the store.

After retiring in 2010, they moved to Houston to be closer to their daughter and to support their grandson, Khari Malcolm, who affectionately called them Bibi (Grandmother) and Babu (Grandfather).

After a long fight, she peacefully passed away with her loving husband of 51 years by her side on April 23, 2023. Johnnie Mae was preceded in death by her parents, John "Bubba" and Mollie Richardson Johnson, sister, Susan Velma Ingram, and brothers-in-law, Greg Jones (Penny) and George Jones (Elaine). She leaves to cherish her memories to her devoted husband, Bernard "Babatunde" Jones; daughter, Dr. Kettisha Jones; grandson, Khari Jones; sister, Peggie Williams (Tyrone); cousin (who was like another sister to her), Hattie Robinson; aunt, Ida Richardson; brothers-in-law, Bruce "Ali" Jones, Frank Banks (Alberta), and David Jones (Yvette); nieces, Raquel Jones, Kayla Jones, and Akiah Banks; nephews, Tyrone Williams II, Greg Jones, Jr. (Davina), George Jones, Jr. (Santa), Kordel Jones, and Daniel Vernon; godson, Curtis Bullard.

Many beloved family and friends have expressed concern and much love. We are grateful for the host of her many, many cousins, grand nieces and nephews, and friends who have reached out to offer words of comfort during this difficult time.