Yvonne Johnson

Yvonne Johnson was born in Philadelphia, PA on March 25, 1958 to the late Susie Mae and the late Chester Staley. Yvonne was educated in the Philadelphia Public School System, attending Simon Muhr and Mary McLeod Bethune Schools for her elementary education, Jay Cook Jr High School, and Kensington High School.  Her high school education was interrupted when she married Gregory Johnson, Sr. and gave birth to her oldest daughter, Tycahe Yvonne.

Yvonne went through another major transition in 1983 when her marriage ended abruptly by her husband’s untimely death. She later returned to the classroom to obtain her GED through a program at Temple University. Some years later, Yvonne met her long-time companion, Norval St. John, Jr. who proceeded her in death in September. From that bond, her youngest daughter, Christina Alexis was born.

Yvonne was very nurturing and had a genuine love for people, but she had a knack for children. Yvonne spent most of her adult life taking care of children out of her home. She was the babysitter that everyone sent their kids to and had a gift for Potty training. Yvonne took a three-year break from caring for children to work at Unitarian Universalist Nursing Home doing personal healthcare.

Yvonne was introduced to Christ as a young girl and attended church with her late husband and his family. However, it was during her membership at Holy Temple Holiness Church under the Pastorate of the late Bishop Abraham Urquhart, where she received salvation. Yvonne was faithful to her church and the ministries in which she served. She was a member of Holy Temple’s “Gospel Chorus” and later sang on the choir under the directive of the late Pastor Wendell Miller. Yvonne was an avid Sunday School teacher for the “Little Friends of Jesus” and adult Sunday School student. She also served under the leadership of the late Bishop Elwin Urquhart and Bishop J. Shawn Urquhart whom she migrated with to the City of Praise Kingdom Cathedral for a few years where she was inducted into the Mother’s Board. In 2014, Yvonne returned to Holy Temple Holiness Church where she served under the Pastorate of Overseer Hasan Urquhart until her time of death.

Yvonne was also a member of the YMCA where she frequented with her sisters to take part in water aerobics. She was known for gathering the other members in a circle for prayer prior to the start of the class. She was an evangelist at heart. No matter where she went, she was never reluctant to tell people about Jesus.

For Yvonne, laughter was a thing and it was infectious. She loved to laugh and have a good time. She found humor in things that most people would not, including scary movies. Yvonne was outgoing, outspoken and very honest, sometimes brutally. She never left you wondering what she thought or how she felt. She loved hard, expressed it easily and said it as often as she could. Yvonne loved her daughters, granddaughter and family unconditionally, but there was something special about the relationship she shared with her sister Carol, who was also her best friend. She loved having family gatherings no matter the occasion. Spending time with her family was important to her and something she enjoyed  immensely.

Proceeded in death by her parents and younger brother, Tyrone, Yvonne unexpectedly entered into eternal rest on Saturday, November 14, 2020.

She leaves to cherish her loving memory: her two daughters, Tycahe Moore and Christina St. John; her two step sons, Gregory Johnson and Kareem Johnson; her only granddaughter, McKenzie Anderson. She will also be greatly missed by her sisters, Gloria Urquhart (Ricky), Carol Williams (Thomas), Almeda Staley; her brother, Chester Staley (Paulette); her nieces, Shantae, Nikita, Marquita (Melvin), Jazmin (Brandon), and Atiya; her nephew, Ricky (Camille); great-nieces, Shariece (Curtis), Kiara, Amiyah, Janiyah, Journee, Ashaya, and Amaris; great-nephews, J’Shawn, Jaydon, Messiah, and  Josiah; one great-great niece, Amor. She is also survived by her aunts Betty Worwell and Eva Dublin; her uncle, Solomon Staley; a host of cousins, church family and friends.

Lovingly Submitted, The Family

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Yvonne Johnson, please visit our floral store.