Anna Dean (Singleton) Johnson

Life’s Legacy: Love

Remembering the Life and Times of Anna D. Johnson

      Anna D. Johnson was born in Franklin, West Virginia to Campbell Bert Singleton, Sr. and Elizabeth Wright on July 18, 1928. Anna went home to be with the Lord her Savior, Jesus Christ on October 11, 2022. One of five siblings, she spent her early life in Franklin and as a young girl she attended Pendleton County Elementary School. When Anna was nine, her mother Elizabeth and the children moved to Harlem, New York seeking better opportunities for education and employment. While living in Harlem, Anna attended P.S. 90.

     One of her fondest memories as a child growing up in New York City, was standing on one corner with her brother Alvin selling brown paper shopping bags as her brother Benny was on the opposite corner selling fruits and vegetables as he sang the watermelon melody to potential customers as Freida watched from the window. She only needed a nickel to get a glazed donut from Cushman’s bakery at the end of the day, so her and Alvin often made a plan to give Benny the proceeds from the day’s earnings…except a nickel for a rare and cherished sweet treat in those days of The Great Depression. A few years later the family moved to Connecticut, where she attended and graduated from Wilby High School in Waterbury. Also while in high school on 1944 on the third of September, Anna was baptized at the Grace Baptist Church in Waterbury, Connecticut by the Rev. Jonathan E. Reed.  Anna continued her education at the Theological Seminary Boarding School in Lynchburg, Virginia until she was 19 years old when her father passed. She continued to pursue her education at the Pierce Stenography School in Waterbury, which enabled her to secure work as a secretary. In 1947, she had a beautiful daughter, Tanya and in 1949 a handsome son, Paul. The family came to reside in Elmwood, PA circa 1948 to share in a familial environment abundant with love. Through the 1950s, Anna was employed in a variety of occupations including secretary, factory worker, seasonal worker at the post office, and Lits Department Store as a sales person and catalog telephone operator. Her experience at Lits combined with her intellect, professionalism, and impressive customer service skills, would prove to be beneficial when she passed the test and secured employment as a telephone operator for Southern New England Telephone Company in 1963. Upon her retirement in 1986, after almost 24 years of service, she was a supervisor who was able to maintain the delicate balance of being a fair yet firm leader who also cultivated friendships that would last a lifetime.

     Love is a precious and tender element in any lifetime; surely Anna married the love of her life, Donal M. Johnson. Anna and Don loved and raised Tanya and Paul, as well as Donnie, Don’s son from a previous marriage. Whether the family was residing in Keyser, West Virginia in the early years or Waterbury, Connecticut once Tanya and Paul were in middle school, love and laughter were always there. The fond memories of the years in Keyser included dances at the Legion, family reunions both in Keyser or back in Franklin, camp meetings, BBQs, or dinner at her cousin Corrine’s house. Simply showing up on the porch of Uncle Jack and Aunt Elton, Uncle Tom and Aunt Georgie, or a myriad of other friends and loved ones for just a moment that in a flash would turn into hours of love, fellowship, joy, and laughter with the ones whom you love the most. Over the decades in Waterbury, there could be a pop-up card game turned fish fry on Longhill Road or by the pool at Uncle Benny’s. The Waterbury family reunions were legendary and oh how much Anna loved those reunions. Dropping off of the grandchildren was a common and standard practice on any given summer day both in Waterbury or Keyser; they always went home more plump, more spoiled, and very well-tanned. Grandma’s house was a place where a kid could have veggie optional dinnertime and non-existent bedtimes all summer long! In 1991, Anna and Donal were moving back to Keyser after spending a few years of retired life both in Waterbury and in Philadelphia. Hiding next to plants two plants that would decorate their new yard in Keyser on the back seat of the moving truck heading south were two stow-aways, Krystal and Paul Jr. This led to many more adventures with LaTasha and Amber spending entire summers at their house in Keyser.  You could find Anna by the pool with a book, as the children swam the summer away up until the Labor Day Cookout where fresh corn and dance contests were a highlight.  Anna was a corn pudding connoisseur and spinach dip expert therefore she often prepared these dishes for holiday meals. Always ready for a road trip, whether Anna and Don were living in Waterbury or Keyser, with a well-organized purse, suitcases containing necessities as well as gifts, Easter Baskets (if it was the season), and infinite love to shower upon us, to Philadelphia Anna would bring laughter, hugs, joy, and love to share that was always beyond measure. Loving on grandchildren was not exclusively a summer affair, it was a life-long love affair for Anna.

     Anna was always the rock for her grandchildren, as they all mourned the loss of their parents, her children.  As of the Winter of 2020, Anna spent her time residing at Rydal Park and loved to tell stories to the workers there of her joyfully led life. An easy and beautiful smile. A hearty laugh that rose from her toes. Every moment of her intricately designed life led by God was filled with joy, laughter and love as she leaves behind an abundant legacy with hearts full.  No matter how you were related to Anna, surely, she loved you. Daughter. Sister. Mother. Mother-in-Law. Aunt. Godmother. Grandmother. Great Grandmother. Great-Great Grandmother. Great Aunt. Cousin. Friend. Anna D. Johnson was preceded in death by her brother Reginald, parents Campbell Sr. and Elizabeth, brother Campbell Jr., son Donnie, husband Donal, granddaughter Amber Patrice, son Paul, daughter Tanya, and brother Alvin, respectively. Anna leaves behind her sister Frieda, her daughter-in-law Elaine, seven grandchildren Jonathan, Lynette, Latasha, Krystal, Paul, Jr., Aaron, and Joshua, great grandchildren, Courtney, Kareese, Justina, Andre, David, Jonathan Allen, Kanyla, Josiah, Amber, Kelli, Amelia, Paul, III, great-great grandchild baby Romin, as well as a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, family, friends, and extended relations. But above all, Anna leaves behind a lifelong legacy of love.

     Friends will be received on Friday, October 21, 2022 at the Markwood Funeral Home from 10:00 – 11:00am. Funeral services will follow the visitation at 11:00am with the Reverend Beth Jacobson officiating. Interment will be held in Potomac Memorial Gardens.

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