February 23, 2017

Funeral for Ida Christeva “Chris” (Laurence) Johnson, 88, of Decatur, was Tues., Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. at Ridout’s Brown-Service Funeral Home Chapel in Decatur, with burial in Roselawn Cemetery.

Mrs. Johnson died Thur., Feb. 23, 2017 at home, surrounded by her family. She was born on Aug. 12, 1928, in Lawrence County, Tenn., the fourth of seven children of Henry and Anna Bell Laurence. She grew up near Leoma, Tenn., married J.V. “Pete” Johnson in July of 1948, and spent her adult life as a wife, homemaker and mother. She was a charter member of Fifth Avenue Baptist Church in Decatur, where she worked with children for many years, before becoming a member of Parkview Baptist Church, Decatur, in the 1990’s. Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, J. V. (Pete) Johnson (deceased, Jan. 2015).

She is survived by two daughters, Linda Gordon (Russ) and Janet Sugg (John), all of Hartselle; grandchildren, Josh Gordon (Treva) of Nashville, Tenn., Abigail Blevins (Billy), Sarah Minnon (Jon), all of Hartselle, John Cullen Sugg (Jennie) of Harvest, Sam Sugg of Decatur and Peter Sugg (Hayley) of Birmingham; great-grandchildren, Cate, Allie, Evie, and Knox Blevins, Luke, Joshua, and Justus Minnon, Zach and Micah Gordon and Jack and Cullen Sugg; siblings, G. T. Laurence (Jean) of Dublin, Ohio, B. J. Laurence (Ann) of Simpsonville, S.C, June Palmer of Cullman; and brother-in-law, W. H. Johnson of Decatur.