Mabel Johnson(99) was born in Tatchfield, in the parish of St Ann, Jamaica, to Ruth Jackson and Ezekiel Ricketts.  Ruth and Ezekiel Ricketts union produced 12 children.  Mabel is the 9^th of twelve children.  She has five sisters and six brothers.  As a child, Mabel attended Limetree Garden Baptist church school.  She remained in this school until the 6^th grade.  Her favorite subject was “scriptures or Religious Education.”  Mabel attended the local Tabernacle church in Brownstown.  There was a revival being hosted at a local church in her home parish of St Ann and a Dr. Kennedy from London England was the visiting preacher.  Dr. Kennedy delivered a sermon entitled” How can you escape if you neglect so great a Salvation?”  Overcome by the power of the Word, Mabel Johnson, at the age of 13 surrendered her life to the Lord and has never looked back!

Also, at the age of 13, Mabel moved to Kingston to live with her older sister, Adella Minto, in Jonestown, Kingston.  In Kingston, Mabel went to a private school where she studied typing and secretarial work.  After graduating from this school, Mabel went to a college study how to be a master seamstress and focused on clothing designing.  After graduating from college, Mabel started her own dress making company.  Mabel tutored a few young women interested in sewing and these individuals became her understudies and were employed by Mabel to make clothing for clients of Ms. Mabel’s clothing company.   Mabel, who was always seeking opportunities for personal advancement, befriended a young lady who was a nurse who had immigrated to England.  Mabel saved up and became the trail blazer of her family immigrated to England and resided with her friend the nurse in SW London.  Mabel would, in turn, sponsor many of her family members who also wanted to emigrate to England.

In London, Mabel maintained her spiritual desire to serve the Lord and became a member of Harrow Road Assembly of God in London.  Here she met a young handsome deacon named Cecil James Johnson.  Mabel admired this young man as he was always well dressed, and she especially loved the way he prayed. Cecil recognized that Mabel was beautiful and ambitious and most importantly, that Mabel was very spiritual and had remained pure in body and mind.  The Lord would reveal that she was to be his life companion. With this mutual attraction they approached their minister for counseling and advice.  After six weeks of courtship, the couple was married Feb 11, 1956, at Wilburn Baptist Church.  London, England.  This union lasted for 40 years and ended when Cecil passed in March 1996.

As a married lady, now, Mrs. Mabel Johnson, she continued in the fashion industry as a seamstress.  As result of her dressmaking expertise, Mabel became connected with TV show producer, Ms. Hannah Weinstein, who produced one of the first Robinhood TV series in England.  Ms. Weinstein worked with famous English actors, which included, Ms. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, whom Mabel had the opportunity to meet. Mrs. Mabel Johnson became Ms. Weinstein’s personal assistant, and it was through this relationship that Mabel’s passion for travelling evolved.   Mabel has traveled to many countries: these countries included: Germany, Holland, France, Spain, Belgium, Canada and USA and a few other countries.  After a few years, Mabel resigned from her position with Ms. Weinstein and decided to devote herself to be a full-time homemaker. (However, Mabel involved herself in various income making projects of her own, as she was very industrious and wanted to maintain some financial independence).   Her husband, who was an ordained deacon, was very spiritually ambitious and began holding prayer meeting and bible studies at their home.   Deacon Cecil Johnson was eventually ordained as a pastor of the Emmanuel Pentecostal Faith Church of God, with it’s headquarter in New York, USA and eventually Pastor Johnson became the bishop of this organization.  As the first lady, Mabel Johnson was ordained as a missionary.  As a Missionary, Mabel Johnson would fondly remember being involved in many outreach missions.  She recalls walking the streets of London speaking to young people about the Lord.  In fact, Missionary Mabel Johnson became quite successful in leading many young souls to the Lord.  While Missionary Mabel Johnson found great fulfillment in working in the church, Mabel and Cecil also found great enjoyment in raising their three children: Calvert, Ruth and especially Naomi.

Mabel, tired of the English weather and wanted to be in a warmer climate.  Unfortunately, she did not feel that she could return to her homeland, Jamaica, so she encouraged her husband to retire in the sunshine state of Florida and begin the next phase of their lives.  The Johnsons immigrated to America in September 1986.  Bishop and Mother Johnson got the call to start a work in Port Charlotte and they began hosting services worshiping at the local Salvation Army Hall and established Emmanuel Pentecostal Assembly of God, here in Port Charlotte. The Lord saw fit to take Bishop Johnson home in 1996.  Missionary Mabel Johnson was determined that the church of God must prevailed.     Missionary Mabel Johnson had always held to a prophesy that was spoken decades ago in London which stated her family would establish a church and have a church building in America.  To that end, Missionary Johnson continued to seek out various locations in which to build a church.  In 2001, Missionary Mabel Johnson found the location upon which the church she and her husband founded stands: 3960 New London St, Northport.  Florida.  Missionary Mabel Johnson soon became known as Mother Johnson.  Mother Johnson willingly invested her own personal funds and purchased the land and the work to build the church began.  Two years later at the opening of the Church, the congregation, led by Mother Johnson, boldly marched into the church singing– We have Come this far by faith!   Mother Johnson continued to work for the Lord and often visiting the local nursing homes and the sick as she shares the love of God with them.  Mother Johnson also enjoys the fellowship of visiting local churches in the community and her face is well known in the local church community.  Mother Johnson is ever laughing, ever encouraging and always faithful.

Mother Mabel transitioned to be with the Lord quietly and peacefully in her sleep on September 26^th, 2023. Mother is the last survivor of all her 11 siblings.  She survived her three WONDERFUL and loving children:  John Johnson, Ruth Battle and Naomi Johnson.  Her grandchildren: Brian Johnson, Mark Johnson, Janique Walker and Samuel Battle and 5 great-grandchildren: Xavier Walker, Xaveed Walker, Morgan Johnson, Hannah Johnson and Paris Johnson and one great -great grand-daughter, Kayla Johnson, a few nieces and nephews and her wonderful Emmanuel church family, as well as her extended church family throughout this community and abroad.   Mother Johnson may not be here physically with us anymore, but she was a “TRUE CHARACTER” and a “MIGHTY WARRIOR” for the Lord and will always be remembered and remain in our hearts, thoughts, and mind!