Mrs. Malissa Davenport Johnson, 85, formerly of Kentucky Avenue, departed this life in Sunday, April 15, 2007 at the CRT Golden Lamb Nursing Home. She was born on January 29, 1932 in Lexington, GA to the late Howard and Rosa Lee Kemp Davenport.

Mrs. Johnson graduated from Chadbourn Negro High School and later moved to Winston-Salem, NC where she met and married her husband of 54 years, George Haywood Johnson, Sr. who predeceased her on October 5, 1997.

She was an active member of Mount Zion Baptist Church until her health declined, where she was a member of the Adult Sunday School Class #6, Ladies' Usher Board, Sarah Missionary Group, Ladies' Progressive Club and the Flower Club.

She retired from Taylor Brothers Tobacco Company after more than 30 years of services.

She is survived by her son, George H. Johnson, Jr.; two daughters, Audrey J. (Melvin) Davis and Sharon J. Buford; a step-daughter, Mary J. (Harold) Springs; one granddaughter whom she helped to rear, Sonja (Anthony) Davis-Ingram; two grandsons; one great-grandson; two sisters, Mozelle George and Gussie Langley; two sisters-in-law, Beulah Davenport and Inez S. Shaw; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at Mount Zion Baptist Church with Dr. Serenus T. Church, Sr. officiating. Internment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2pm until 3pm on Thursday at the Church as well as other times at the home of her daughter, Sharon J. Buford.

The family wishes to express their deep appreciation to the staff of CRT Golden Lamb Nursing Home and a special thank you to the staff of Hospice and Palliative Care Center for their devoted and loving care.