Delores Berniece Johnson

Delores Berniece (Lake) Johnson passed away in her 98th year on Nov. 7 at Majestic Care in Bloomington where she resided since Spring of 2024. In nearly a century of life, Berniece raised three children, had two granddaughters and a grandson, and two great granddaughters. She survived the Great Depression, lived through World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam, made good on her promise to be faithful in “sickness and in health” to her late husband, Lloyd, and lived well into the new Millenium. She was preceded in death by brothers Cecil, Oren, James and Alvie, sisters Helen, Virginia, Jane, Patty and infant siblings. Throughout it all, Berniece remained an observant Christian, attending church as long as she was able, most recently at Turning Point Apostolic Church in Ellettsville. She spoke in Tongues in church, loved singing the old hymns, prayed regularly, read her Bible faithfully, paid tithes and watched her favorites pastors on television. She never lost faith in God despite the extended illness and loss of her husband, Lloyd Keith Johnson, in 2000, as well as the passing of her parents, in-laws, family members and close friends along the way. Until the age of 96, she was able to remain in her own home with assistance from family and her long-time caregiver, Julie. She entered nursing home care after sustaining a broken shoulder in a fall on Mother’s Day 2024. Born in Fayetteville in Lawrence County, she was member of the large family of Herschel and Alice Lake. After graduating from Fayetteville High School in 1946, she worked at a number of jobs: sewing buttons on shirts, doing line work at RCA and Sarkes Tarzian, addressing envelopes in an office, and briefly helping assemble tiny parts on bombs at the Crane Naval Ammunition Depot during WWII. She met Lloyd at the 16th Street Pentecostal Church in Bedford in early 1948 and after a brief courtship, they were married by the Rev. Harvey DePhew on Oct. 24, 1948. In their 51 years of marriage, Lloyd and Berniece lived in four new houses that Lloyd helped build and enjoyed many joys and some sorrows. Early in their marriage, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, but through faith and unceasing prayer, he was completely healed without surgery. Lloyd passed away from unrelated illness on Jan. 16, 2000. Berniece frequently mentioned Lloyd’s healing as evidence of the glory of God in their lives. Berniece was known for her meticulous cleaning schedule, and her excellent cooking, not only daily meals but special family feasts on holidays. Her yeast dinner rolls, delicious pies, cakes and Christmas candy were greatly prized and enjoyed by family and friends. She sewed her own house dresses and made intricate crocheted doilies. Berniece will be remembered for never forgetting a birthday or Christmas card for relatives and friends over the course of many decades. She is survived by two sons, Alan Wayne Johnson of Gahanna, Ohio; Michael Anthony Johnson (Rebecca) of Bloomington, and daughter, Mary Beth Johnson (Kent) of Bloomington; two granddaughters, Sumi Johnson Ross of Scottsburg and Kara Johnson Durand (Christian) of Gahanna; grandson Connor Alan Johnson of Gahanna; great-granddaughters Amelia Johnson of Gahanna and Siena Kelly of Scottsburg; step-great-grandson Jacob Kelly of Bloomington, and many nieces and nephews. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory 4155 South Old State Rod 37 is handling funeral arrangements and services will be held Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 1:00PM at the funeral home. Visitation will be held also on Tuesday at the funeral home from 11:00AM until the time of the service at 1:00PM. Berniece will be laid to rest next to to her husband in a private ceremony at Clover Hill Cemetery. Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends at www.allencares.com

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Delores Berniece Johnson

June 19, 1927 - November 7, 2025