On November 10, 1946, Martha was born to the Union of Mr. Jimmy Earl Traylor and Mrs. Irene LeFay Traylor in Marshall, Texas. She joined Zion Hill Baptist Church in Marshall, Texas and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age. Martha was united in marriage to Henry L. Johnson on June 14, 1974. This union was blessed with three children, Christopher S. Johnson, Oji D. Johnson and Shemalis (Shem) Johnson. Martha was a member of GMMBC (formerly MMBC) for 34 years, dedicated and serving the Lord through the church and the southwest district. She and her husband united with Washington Avenue Baptist Church on April 4, 2010, where she remained faithful until her health failed. Martha received her education from H.B. Pemberton High School, Marshall, TX; B.S. degree from Prairie View A&M University (formerly A&M college); Masters degree from Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. Martha spent most of her career as an educator, focusing on home economics and early childhood development. She taught in the following learning institutions: Southwest Missouri State University (now MSU), both Springfield and West Plains campuses, Penn Valley Community College, Kansas City, MO, Ozark Technical College, three Springfield Public High Schools and one junior high school. She was owner/operator of Martha's Day Care from the home for over 14 years. Martha enjoyed spending time with grandkids, family, and friends, camping/boating, working with kids, sewing, collecting doll figurines, working crossword puzzles, and was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. Martha went to be with her Lord and Savior on November 12, 2013 at 2:10 AM at Mercy Hospital with loved ones by her bedside. She was preceded in death by her special aunt, Beatrice (Aunt "B") Davis, Marshall, TX; parents, Mr. Jimmy Traylor and Irene Traylor. She leaves to cherish her memories her husband, Mr. Henry L. Johnson of Springfield, MO; three sons, Christopher (Kristen) Johnson of Olathe, KS, Oji (Lillian) Johnson of Lee Summit, MO, and Shemalis "Shem" Johnson, of Springfield, MO; four grandchildren, Marcus Johnson, Alex Johnson, Asa and Mira Johnson; one brother, Jimmy Traylor; five sisters, Brenda (James) May of DeSoto, TX, Beatrice (Larry) McGhee of Linden, New Jersey, Carmen Jones of DeSoto, TX, Angela (Matt) Smith of Marshall, TX, Michelle Williams of Lancaster, TX; special uncle, A.V. Fisher of Fort Worth, TX; and a host of nieces, nephews, in-laws, relatives and friends. Funeral service will be Monday, November 18, 2013 at 11:00 AM in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 10 AM until service time. Burial will be at 1:00 PM in Missouri Veterans Cemetery.
