Mrs. Willa Mae Moody-Johnson peacefully entered into eternal rest on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at the Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Willa was born in Bamberg County, South Carolina on February 1, 1945, the daughter of the late Charlie Moody Jr. and Eartha Mae Rivers-Moody.

She attended the public schools in Bamberg County and graduated from Richard Carroll High School, Class of 1962. At an early age, she joined and was baptized at Thankful Baptist Church in Bamberg, South Carolina, where she served faithfully until her health declined. She was a member of the former Young Women's Auxiliary, the Adult Choir, Food Committee and secretary for the Senior Missionary Society.

During the 1960's, Willa worked with the voter registration drive to register people of Color to vote. She was a skilled seamstress who worked at Bamberg Manufacturing and Williston Manufacturing as a sewing machine operator for more than 45 years. She also worked at the Bamberg County Disabilities and Special Needs Board as a caregiver.

Willa was a humanitarian with a servant's heart.  At the age of 18, she took on the tremendous task of raising her younger siblings after the death of her mother. She was the matriarch of the family.  She spent her entire life serving and reaching out to others in need.  In her leisure, she enjoyed fishing, dancing, and planting flowers.

Willa was affectionately known as the "Avon Lady."  She sold Avon in Bamberg and surrounding counties for over 20 years. Her outstanding salesmanship and charismatic personality were recognized with the award of top salesperson for the Bamberg Region.  As a result of her excellent salesmanship, she received numerous awards and had the pleasure of eating dinner with Billy Dee Williams.

She was united in Holy Matrimony to Freddie Lee Johnson, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Allen Moody-Morant and three brothers: Charles Moody, Larry Moody, and Elza Alphonso Moody.

She leaves to mourn and cherish fond memories - a son, Rafon Moody, Columbia, SC; a granddaughter, Breana Rashette Moody, Hampton, SC; a great-grandson, Josiah Braxton, Hampton, SC; seven sisters: Lorraine M. Johnson and Jacqueline Smalls, Bamberg, SC, Anna Mae Moody and Geraldine Dowling, Brooklyn, NY, Joyce Lee Moody, Orangeburg, SC, Annette (Jerome) Rickenbacker and Rosa Nell Henry, Columbia, SC; eight sisters-in law: Frances (Benjamin) Mack, Cynthia (Michael) Sapp, and Ernestine Ross, Bamberg, SC, Bethel Faye Johnson and Mamie Ruth (Willie) Waldo, Columbia, SC, Mary CarMichael, Orangeburg, SC, Deborah Johnson, Shelby, NC, and Elizabeth Parler, Kingstree, SC; eight brothers-in law: Bishop Richard Carroll (Lois) Johnson and Willie James (Naomi) Johnson, Columbia, SC, John Edward Johnson, Nathaniel (Teresa) Johnson, and Mack (Bessie) Johnson, Bamberg, SC, Larry (Angela) Johnson, Norway, SC; Christopher (Monique) Scott, Orangeburg, SC and Walter Stokes, Brooklyn, NY; several aunts, uncles, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, and caregivers, Frances Beard and Romona Hannibal.