Mrs. Margie Vernell Johnson

Margie Vernell Johnson, 83, of Columbia, passed away peacefully in her sleep and entered her heavenly home on Friday, September 17, 2021. Born on January 13, 1938, in Columbia, she was the daughter of the late Wade Hampton Brazell and Eva Corder Brazell. Margie was a humble servant of God and lived her entire life serving her savior and sharing the love of Jesus. A precious, godly woman, she touched and blessed so many through her singing, piano playing, sweet personality and Christian testimony. Margie was the loving wife of Mr. Aaron Levi Johnson for 67 years. The two met in church and were married in 1954 and shared a never-ending love for each other. Aaron and Margie have been devoted, long time members of Alpine Baptist Church since 1962 where Margie was the pianist for over 44 years while Aaron played the accompanying bass guitar. They shared their passion of music together and were known throughout the community as talented musicians and singers. Margie enjoyed a long and successful career in the retail industry until her retirement 20 years ago. She had a natural talent and love for fashion and was always impeccably dressed regardless of the occasion. Her many customers relied on her expertise and traveled for miles to be styled and accessorized by her. In her free time, she enjoyed gardening and would often be found in the yard watering flowers and pulling weeds, all while dressed in a style. She loved traveling, both on church activities as well as with her family, visiting New York, Hawaii and throughout the southeast. A talented Sunday School teacher, she shared her vast biblical knowledge with the church youth group and later with the Ladies Sunday School class. A devoted mother and grandmother, she cherished her family most of all and valued the time she was able to spend with each one. Sharing meals together was one of her greatest joys as she loved to cook and serve others. Margie was a wonderful hostess of events large and small, always put others first, and was a sweet soul who never met a stranger. Margie was full of grace and elegance, a dear friend to many, a loving wife, mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed. She leaves a legacy of God’s amazing grace and love to all who were blessed to know her. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Steven Johnson (Beckie); daughter, Kellie Richardson (Rick); granddaughters, Lauren Morris (Brandon), Mary Catherine Johnson, and Haylie Richardson; great-grandchildren, Brandon Morris Jr. and Wyatt Morris; brother, Gerald Brazell; as well as many loving cousins, nieces and nephews. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her siblings, Doris Howard, Ruth Brazell, Leroy Brazell, Odell Brazell, and Wilbur Brazell. The funeral service for Mrs. Johnson will be held at 2 o’clock on Tuesday, September 21st, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext Columbia, SC. Burial will follow at Alpine Baptist Church Cemetery, 4930 Alpine Road Columbia, SC. The Family will receive friends prior to the service at the funeral home beginning at 1 o’clock. Memories and condolences can be shared at ShivesFuneralHome.com.

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Mrs. Margie Vernell Johnson

January 13, 1938 - September 17, 2021