Cherita Elaine Bobo Johnson, 4th child and first daughter of the late David Newton Bobo and Edith Esther Johnson Bobo, peacefully departed this life on Wednesday morning on April 19th , 2023 at the Crozer Chester Medical Center. She was 95 years old.
Born and raised in Chester City, Cherita attended its public schools and graduated from Chester High School in the Class of 1945. She went on to matriculate at the then West Chester State Teacher’s College and graduated with a BS in Physical Education. Realizing that in that day and time, job opportunities were sparse, she chose to complete additional certifications in Elementary Education.
Marrying her high school sweetheart, the late Garland H. Johnson, 4 children, son Richard and daughters Maxine, Twyla and Theresa (Terry) completed this family picture.
This parenting ‘dynamic duo’ meshed their many strengths to offer a world view life experience as they raised their children. Every opportunity became a teachable moment from the trips to West Chester which the children thought of as trips to their very own personal park, to drive-in movies in their jammies so that knowing parents could just later carry them to bed to the sandwiches with I love you stamped into the bread (or later, no crusts for a certain spoiled granddaughter Lauren Wilmore) to them explaining politics and encouraging us to speak our minds, ask any question but the tone and manner had to be a certain tenor or there could be consequences. Family game nights were a norm and fair weather meant nightly treats from Sonny’s Water Ice truck for them and any other neighborhood kid who came and boy did they come!
The morning when Pop Garland explained to Maxine and Twyla about the critical 1960’s Civil Rights era and that the day would come for a reckoning as brother Ricky might be arrested for protesting and Mom Cherita might be jeopardizing her teaching job. However, both would continue despite the potential outcomes. The family archive has an editorial letter penned by Cherita to the local newspaper speaking out vehemently about the deplorable educational climate of the Chester Upland School District. There are still living breathing witnesses when mom Cherita publicly reprimanded her then principal Connie Brown for punching her middle daughter in the back as she left the classroom having been let in school early because of inclement weather. Suffice to say, Connie didn’t punch ‘nary another child in the back after that and Cherita’s saying of “…and I mean that thing” spoke volumes taking on a whole new meaning. Cherita did not play about her children or her family periodt.
Cherita was an outstanding long-standing matriarch as she continued to be the pacesetter for the Bobo-Johnson clan. From her sister-in-law Patricia who in her youth often ran away from home almost daily to her oldest brother’s house some ten blocks away, to having two namesakes – one as a sister-in law and the other as a great granddaughter, to the tradition of the brown sugar box recipient, privileged and honored, who then knew s/he was getting a handcrafted quilt as congratulations on a graduation, birth or marriage to family gatherings, family is and was always important.
As a faithful life-long member of St. Daniels UME Church and a member of its Class 11, Cherita developed long-standing friendships as she grew spiritually with natural leadership skills emerging and her servant’s heart was nurtured as it matured. Her efforts with the United Methodist Women are noted in the annules of its organizational history. Often she was the behind the scenes creator of altar skirts, FD Jones Center curtains as well as oversized church banners and sanctuary decorations and was often called upon for weddings and other joyous celebrations as she was always a willing participant and supporter of the many church bazaars and craft fairs. Family and friends supported her variety of crafty offerings from shellacked bread centerpieces to pillows and later ceramics and award-winning quilts to name a few. She competently combined her multiple roles of wife, mother, teacher, and community advocate coupling them with her crafting passion allowing her to explore other art forms conquering most of them along the way. For years, she anonymously supplied the late Rev. Frisby with his gifts for the sick and shut ins.
Widely known as a part of the threesome of Cherita, Ev and Georgina who would hop in the car heading South stopping where and when the spirit moved them to do so, they found lodging, played pinochle, shopped, ate and rode some more, eventually deciding to turn around to head home. Rev Frisby would later round out the crew as a foursome and visited Cherita with Mrs. Evelyn Prattis Frisby and Georgina Warren offering communion to her. Their prayers alone made the visit that much more rewarding.
As a teacher and community advocate, the Mrs. Johnson commanded respect in and out of the classroom. Teachers were glad to get her crop of students for the upcoming year. Again, she always was able to make learning come alive, and she is still fondly remembered by her former charges. She was a mentor and friend to colleagues and numbered many of the greats among her friends including Ev and Georgina, Ollie Gordy Grimsley, Eloise Rothwell, Gertrude Davis, Louise Galleon, Juanita Hart, Josephine Sharp, Harold Swiggett, Caretha Chandler, Yvonne (Hunt) Proudford, Ruth Palm, Ethel (Brown) Hill, and Dan Bevington to name just a few.
At 95, Cherita remained in fervent prayer mode and practiced the Lord’s Prayer as a way of measuring her memory and aging. She has transitioned but left an indelible mark on the family and friends who remain to rejoice and celebrate her life. Preceding her in death are brothers David Nelson (Marie), Earl (Gertrude), Hugh (Filena) Bobo and Wayne Tiller, sister Pamela Reeves, sister friend Eva K. Butler and grandson Tristan Ryan Wilmore. Treasured memories and keepsakes remain the legacy of her children, Richard B. Johnson (Myra) Richmond, VA, Maxine Johnson, Twyla Simpkins (Reginald) and Theresa Wilmore, all of Chester, PA and brothers Michael (Judy) Tiller of Chester, PA and Eric (Cheryl)Tiller of Ft. Worth, TX, 7 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, a special first cousin Donald Johnson and family, godchild Pia Lynn (Warren) Cooper as well as an extensive extended family and innumerable adopted family and friends who are left to celebrate Cherita’s life and to carry on her legacy of love and service.
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