Constance Kelley Johnson, was born on March 29, 1931 and departed this life on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 on the same exact date her mother-in-law (her husband's mother) passed some 39 years ago. Married for over 57 years to the love of her life, David Johnson Jr., together they raised four children, Marchelle, Dana, A vis and Christopher. She was "something else;" with a sense of humor and kind spirit to keep you laughing and enjoying life. She was born and reared in Columbus, Ohio, and by the age of 13 both of her parents, Ruth and Leroy Kelley, died tragically and prematurely, causing her to go live with her favorite Aunt Christine Kelley Tate. As a young woman, driving a convertible Cadillac and enjoying a grand life, she worked at two of her family's businesses: the cleaner's on Main Street and the family country club. A pin-up-style beauty, with a pleasant personality and stunning looks, she won Ohio Beauty Pageants and modeled. She wrote editorials for the local Ohio newspapers. Extremely talented, she possessed a sensational opera voice and attended Ohio State University for voice. She often sang solos on the church choir where she was especially fond of Negro spirituals. In the 50's she opened a charm school in Ohio, Marchelle's, named after her first born. In 1960, she and her husband David moved to his hometown, Baltimore, where she devoted her life to her family and enjoyed her home in the Ashburton community. On warmer days you could find her swinging on the porch swing. She had lots of great ideas and possessed a classic knack for interior decorating. From head to toe, from hat to gloves, she was a glamorous, stylish, elegant and smart dresser, and she loved dressing her young kids in designer clothes, many of which were her original designs, sewn by her best friend Bernice Watson. She could often be found educating her girls, and their visiting girlfriends, about manners and boys. Connie groomed her young girls to model throughout Baltimore, landing them several shows, and Ebony Magazine featured them as the Carnation Family in both 1963 and 1964. She always protected and cared for her children. Pursuing her passion for opera, one of her highlights was singing for several years with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in the 80' s. She especially loved planning the weddings for her daughters, Marchelle in 1978 and Dana in 1992, which were celebrated in high spirit and fashion. She loved annual vacations at the beach, read at least one book a week, watched tennis matches, and enjoyed going to movies. She could bake a fabulous pound cake and lemon meringue pie and loved white castle hamburgers, Godiva chocolate, hot fudge sundaes, creamed chipped beef, singing, and talking. She was knowledgeable about furs and diamonds and her "dapper" husband made sure she had plenty of both. Fifteen years ago, at the age of 69, she was diagnosed with progressive aphasia, leaving her unable to talk. The disease progressed during the last four years of her life requiring great care. Fortunately she remained at home until her death where she received nursing care and the loving and devoted daily care from her husband, daughter A vis, and Mac Hampton. Her first born, Marchelle (Johnson Wood), preceded her in death in December, 2013. Left to survive are: her loving husband, David; one son, Christopher; two daughters, A vis and Dana (Gaskins); one son-in law, Gregory Gaskins; three granddaughters, Tate, Taylor, and Kelley (husband Korey King); one grandson, MacKenzie Wood (wife Chinon); and four great grandchildren: Kenton, Kris, and Kody King, and McKenzie Wood. Memorial Service Joseph H. Brown Jr. Funeral Home Tuesday, July 21, 2015 05:30 PM Email Details 2140 N. Fulton Ave.
Baltimore, Maryland 21217 Service @ 6:30pm Directions