Mrs. Lucille W. Johnson (Sweetie) was born on February 15, 1930, to Emma Young and Charles Walters in East St. Louis, IL. She was raised in a home of faith and accepted Christ as a young woman. She loved being active with family and ministry. She was a faithful member of many community organizations and a very active member of Mount Paran Missionary Baptist Church. Both parents preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death, her loving husband Bennie, three sisters, Mae Helen Heady, Nina Scott, Lillian McKissack and brother, John Fields, two sons, Michael Eugene Johnson, Cecil Jerome Johnson and a daughter Taceillya Bernice Johnson.

She attended East St. Louis public schools. Prior to graduating high school, she met the man of her dreams and after a short courtship married him. Only to have this sweet union cut short due to her age. Bennie knew he had found a good thing, and she was so nice that he married her twice, once in 1947 and again in 1951! Unto this union were born five loving children.

Her passion for education led her to become a dedicated educator and community activist for over 30 years, touching the lives of countless people with her love, wisdom and guidance.

On February 9, 2024, at age 93, while singing the affectual praise hallelujah, praying, and quoting the 23rd PSALM, Sweetie found perfect peace as God made his decision to ascend her into the everlasting loving arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Sweetie leaves to cherish her memory two daughters, Stephanie Cade and Pamela Duggan (Calvin), one god daughter, Ms. Girtha Payton, 15 grandchildren, Vergil Johnson, Lakeisha Smith, Stoney Anderson, Bryant Jones, Cecila Johnson, Stephon Lyons (Rev. Sharon), John Lyons (Betty), Dartanion Lyons (Danjovan), Harvey Robinson, Janelle Wilson, (Darrell), LaTasha Harper (Kierra), Jzhaurice Lyons (Raphael), Jeremy Harris (Shakeeta), Theresa Hull and Shaun Simmons (Katrina), 40 great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family members and friends.

Because God declared her labor of good works to be complete, we are confident, she was willing to be absent from the body, to be present with the Lord. Sweetie's legacy of faith and love will live forever in the hearts, minds and souls of all who were blessed to know her. She accepted Jesus, the master and teacher, chose to walk the same path as him, and he made her a fisher of men. Her tireless efforts and unwavering faith have left an enduring mark everyone she encountered.