AHOSKIE, NC – Nannie Alford Johnson, age 83, passed away on October 12, 2016 at Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Ahoskie, NC.

Mrs. Johnson was born in Nash County on April 24, 1933, a daughter of the late Charlie and Bessie Hamlett Alford. Nannie was a member of Creech Memorial Baptist Church and was a homemaker. She loved to sew, starting at the age of five, and becoming an accomplished seamstress. Through the years she made a lot of her children’s clothes, doll clothes for her daughter, and her daughter’s wedding dress and bridesmaid’s dresses and her daughter in law’s wedding dress. Nannie loved all sorts of crafting, including crocheting and knitting, and was very good at looking at something, copying the pattern, and making it.

In her younger days, Nannie wanted to be a hairdresser, styling family member’s hair on a weekly basis for church, and perming her daughter’s hair at home. She loved photography and home movies as is evident by the thousands of pictures and many home movies she had of her family. She was a self-taught pianist and organist and served as church organist for many years. While not always enthusiastic about cooking, she was an outstanding cook.

Beside her parents, Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her loving husband, Marcus Wiley Johnson, Sr., a son, Thomas Lee Johnson, her brothers, Ed Alford, Cliff Alford, Julian “Pete” Alford, Bill Alford, and Roy Alford, sisters in law, Mary Lou Alford, and Bunny Alford; and a brother in law, Rex Wainright.

Left to cherish her memory are three sons, Marcus W. Johnson, Jr. and wife, Lillian Anne of Harrellsville, NC, Paul Johnson and wife, Linda of Grimesland, NC, and Steve Johnson and wife, Vanessa of Ahoskie, NC; her daughter, Beth J. Stroud and husband, Randy of Ahoskie, NC; three brothers, Bob (Joyce) Alford of Rocky Mount, NC, Harold (Donnie) Alford of Miami, FL, and Kenneth (Jean) Alford of Rocky Mount, NC; her sister, Louise Wainright of Winterville, NC; four sisters in law, Gaynelle Alford, Carolyn Alford, and Betty Jean Blackford, all of Rocky Mount, NC; five grandsons, David Johnson, Randal Stroud, Chris Johnson, Daniel Johnson, and Cody Johnson; four granddaughters, Rebekah Hardee, Amanda Johnson, Rachel Stroud, and Mary Alice Johnson; and eight great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends on Monday, October 17, 2016, from 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm at Garrett Sykes Funeral Service of Ahoskie and on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, from 1:00 pm until 2:30 pm at Creech Memorial Baptist Church, prior to services.

A celebration of life service will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at 3:00 pm at the Creech Memorial Baptist Church, with Rev. Jimmy Ward, and Rev. David Duncan, officiating. Burial will follow in Ahoskie Cemetery.

Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made directly to Alzheimer’s Research, the American Cancer Society or to Creech Memorial Baptist Church or you may go online to donate to one of these organizations by visiting www.tmcfunding.com/search, type Nannie Johnson.

Garrett Sykes Funeral Service – Ahoskie Chapel is handling the arrangements for the Johnson family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.