Obituary of Betty-Levan Johnson

Betty Levan Johnson STATESVILLE, NC-- Betty Levan Johnson went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at Gordon Hospice House after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 76 years of age. She was born on August 7, 1934 in Iredell County, NC, to the late Ralph W. Levan and Stella Martin Levan. She was one of their 11 children - one sister and nine brothers. She is survived by the absolute loves of her life, her husband, friend, partner and soul mate, S. L. (Jim) Johnson, six children, 12 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, all of whom she adored. Betty attended Central School in Iredell County. After being a stay-at-home mom for many years, she worked as a school cafeteria worker until her retirement. She had many hobbies and talents, among them were sewing, singing, and playing the piano by ear. Betty had many gifts, but her talents of love and music were freely shared with those she touched in her lifetime. She loved having her children, sister and brothers gather around the piano and sing as it gave her breath and made her spirit soar. Her talents were also used as she played the piano for her Sunday school class as they sang on Sunday mornings as long as her health allowed. She was a devoted Christian and active member and choir member of Beulah Baptist Church. She claimed Christ as her Savior and now rests in His arms. She was a parent who was at every church or school function her children or grandchildren in which they were involved. She also embraced many children who were not her own and helped raise countless numbers of children in her home for whom she cared. Betty is survived by six children, Doris (Kirby) Crotts of Valdese, NC, Tonda J. Redmond of Statesville, NC; Sherwin (Harry) Washburn of Shelby, NC, and Luanne (Greg) Stone, Bart (Sharon) Johnson, and Jill (Ted) Inscore of Statesville, NC; grandchildren, Frank Redmond, LeAnne (Tommy) Stewart, Downey (Aaron) Hinton, Jay Washburn and Brett Washburn, Chris (Alarie) Stone, Aaron (Celeste) Crotts, Neil (Jennifer) Johnson, Trent (Whitney) Johnson, Randall Johnson, Branson Inscore, and MacKaden Inscore; great-grandchildren, Mason Stewart, Luke Hinton, Peyton and Will Stone, Gavin and Trey Johnson, Katelyn, Korbin, and Kloe Johnson, and step-great grandchildren, Nic and Christopher Crotts. Betty is also survived by her sister, Lucille L. Brittain of Drexel, NC; and brothers, Wade Levan of Statesville, Ira Lee Levan of Troutman, NC, and Clifford Levan, and Parks (Buddy) Levan of Hiddenite, NC. She was preceded in death by brothers, Rev. Wayne Levan, Tom, Craig, Troy, and Halbert Levan.The family will visit with friends in the Beulah Church Sanctuary from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, prior to the service on Friday night. A service of Celebration of Love and Remembrance of Betty Johnson will be held at Beulah Baptist Church, Old Mountain Road, Statesville, NC, on Friday, September 3, 2010 at 7:00 PM, with Rev. Allen Roberts officiating. Private burial services will be held on Saturday. Active pallbearers will be Raymond Levan, Dusty Levan, Doy Levan, Mike Levan, Lane Levan, Tony Brittain and Marty Brittain.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gordon Hospice House, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625; or to the Gardner-Webb University Eugene and Betty Washburn and S.L. and Betty Johnson Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 997, Boiling Springs, NC 28017.The family would like to give special thanks to Rev. Allen Roberts and the loving caregivers of Hospice of Iredell.Bunch-Johnson Funeral home is entrusted with arrangements for Betty Levan Johnson. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.bunchjohnson funeralhome.com.