Johnnie Henderson

On January 23rd, 1929 in LaGrange, Tx, a beautiful baby girl, Johnnie Mae Rivers, was born to Mr. Dave Rivers and Survellia Francis. Johnnie Mae attended school in Fayette County ISD. She was a great student and really loved leaning new things. Johnnie Mae excelled in math and reading and she won many award for being the "Best Speller" and she even won a city wide spelling bee!

At the age of 10 Johnnie Mae decided to give her life to Christ and was baptised by the late Rev. R.L. Ruffins. Johnnie soaked up every sermon! She enjoyed learning about the goodness of God and patterned her life after the biblical teachings. Johnnie Mae sang in the choir and loved teaching Sunday school and working in the mission! Years later she married Napolean Eason Sr. and eventually moved to Austin Texas, to raise her children.

Johnnie Mae worked several jobs to make ends meet. She cleaned houses earning $5 a day, did laundry for people and even picked cotton to earn extra money to provide her kids with the things they needed. Despite all odds She managed to pay her own way through beauty college and opened her own beauty salon! She worked diligently and made sure to instill hard work, sacrifice and community service into her kids, and later her grandkids.

Johnnie often said that her calling was to "Feed the Needy". It broke her heart to think of anyone going hungry. Johnnie loved cooking and often cooked huge meals and would always feed her pastor, neighbors and anyone that she thought could use a good meal! Her motto was "The Lord always provides" and even when she was struggling she would give her last, knowing that God would provide what she needed, and of course He always did! Johnnie Mae joined Mt. Pilgrim Baptist church under the leadership of the late Rev. E.L. Roberts and was a member for over 65 years, where she continued singing, teaching and ministering to the needs of the community while remaining a loyal and hardworking servant of the Most high, until The Lord called her home on June 24th, 2023.

Johnnie Mae was preceded in death by her mother Survellia Francis, her father Dave Rivers, husband W.D. Henderson, her daughter Thelma Caesar and son Napolean Eason Jr., her younger sister Ruthie Sapp, her nephews Horace and Parnell Curtis and her grandson Charles Clemons Jr. She leaves to carry on her legacy and mourn her passing, her older sister Thelma Sorrels of Austin Texas, Sons Rev. Norris Eason Sr. (Gloria) of Manor Texas, Alton Caesar (Valerie) of Manor Texas, Johnny "rusty" Caesar of League City Texas, daughters Mary Joe McKenzie (Roosevelt) of League City Texas, Floreese Clemons Mayberry (Rev. Tommy Mayberry) of Austin Texas and Georgia Williams (widowed) of Pflugerville Texas, along with a host of devoted Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, Nieces, Nephews, Cousins and Friends!