Lela Wiseman Johnson

Lela Money Wiseman Johnson, Age 101 of Boonville, passed away peacefully early Sunday November 5, 2017, at SECU Hospice Care Center of Yadkin. Born in Yadkin County on September 23, 1916, she was the fifth of eight children born to B.C. and Vallie Brown Money. She was a long-time member of Union Grove Baptist Church, where she was the oldest living member, and was actively attending until Easter Sunday, 2017. Lela spent most of her life in the Fall Creek Community of Yadkin County. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her two husbands, a great-grandson, Ethan Shore; two brothers, Brodie Money and Ben Money; four sisters, Ruth Whitaker, Lola Brown, Ura Martin, and Ada Lee Jester Lela married her first husband, Johnnie Bell Wiseman, on November 17, 1934 and they were married 31 years, until his death on June 26, 1965. They owned and operated Wiseman’s Oil Company and Wiseman’s Service Station and Grocery Store for 20 years. After Johnnie’s death, Lela continued to operate Wiseman’s Grocery Store for some 15 years until she retired. There were three daughters from this marriage and all survive: Emogene Vestal and husband Alton of Boonville, Charlene Heffner and husband Kim of Yadkinville and Sandra Reid and husband David of Wallburg. Also surviving are four grandchildren; Velvet Hicks and husband Tony of Charleston, SC, David Vestal and wife Melinda, of Boonville, Doug Shore and wife Jackie of Bremerton, Washington, Jeremy Reid and wife, Cristin, of Wendell, NC; one step-grandson, Mac Heffner of Burlington; five great-grandchildren, Michael Hicks and wife Bailey of Denver, CO, Natalie Hicks of Charleston, SC, Erika Vestal of Greensboro, Dalton Vestal of Wilmington, Mallory Rhyne of Boone, and Johnathan David (JD) Reid of Wendell, NC.  She is also survived by one sister, Doris Hobson, of Clemmons, and many special nieces and nephews. On October 10, 1971 Lela married Joseph Gray Johnson; and they were married for 35 years until his death on December 30, 2006. From this marriage there are two stepsons: Jerry Johnson and wife Jamie, and David Johnson and wife Robin, both of Yadkinville; six step grandchildren, Hannah Reece and husband Nick of Ronda, Mattie Hefner and husband Joseph, Brad Johnson and wife Tammy,  Hope Webb and husband Ernie, and Bridget Jenkins and husband W.A., all of Yadkinville.  Also, eleven step-great-grandchildren: Makenzie and Nicholas Johnson, Evan and Emily Webb, Kylie and Kendall Jenkins, Ava, Isaac and Olivia Hefner and Hank and Lexie Reece.  A service celebrating the life of Lela will be held Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 11:00 am at Union Grove Baptist Church, 2401 Nebo Road, Yadkinville, with the Rev. Kenny Gooden officiating. The body will be placed in the church 30 minutes before the service and burial will follow in the church cemetery.   The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening, November 7, 2017 from 6-8 p.m. at Gentry Family Funeral Service, 5108 North Hwy 601, Yadkinville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Union Grove Baptist Church Building Fund, 2041 Nebo Road, Yadkinville, NC 27055 or Mountain Valley Hospice SECU Hospice Care Center of Yadkin, 320 W. Maple Street, Yadkinville, NC 27055. A sincere thank you to all of Lela’s family, church family, friends and caregivers, Kathy Freeman and Pat Spencer, Jonesville Family Medical Center, Yadkin Valley Home Health, and Mountain Valley Hospice, SECU Hospice Home of Yadkin for all the love and kindness shown to her throughout her life. What a blessing you were to her and she loved you each dearly. Her thoughts about life and living were very simple:  “Love and serve God with all your heart and soul and always be kind to each other.” Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville is serving Lela’s family. Online condolences may be made to www.gentryfuneralservice.com.