Clara Sue Johnson

Funeral service for Clara Sue Johnson will be 11 a.m. Monday, January 29, 2024 in Greater Love Ministries Church of God in Christ, Altus.

Burial will follow in Fairlawn Cemetery, Snyder, under direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home of Snyder.

Clara Sue Burris Johnson went to her Heavenly home on Monday, January 22, 2024 at the age of 93. She was born to Duke and Luella Weaver Burris. Clara was the seventh child of 14 children. She was born on January 24, 1930 in Tom, Oklahoma. Clara attended Dunbar Junior High School in Idabel, Oklahoma, but completed her Junior High School career in Tipton, Oklahoma. She finished her high school studies in Snyder, Oklahoma, graduating with her GED. She met and married Edward Byron Johnson and they wed September 3, 1947 in Vernon, Texas and to their union they were blessed with four children. From oldest to youngest daughter Luella, Rita, Edward Jr. and Polly.

Clara was saved and baptized in the Holy Ghost April 12 at a noon day prayer in 1952. She started her nursing career in 1962 where she became a care-taker for the elderly and shut-ins for 12 years. Clara sold Mary Kay for 32 years and was a top seller, she fostered and cared for over 40 children, For nine years she served as a director and head cook for the Snyder Senior Citizens building and she worked for the Kellwood factory in Frederick, Oklahoma. She placed her membership with Power House Church of God in Christ in Snyder, Oklahoma where she lived and served for 48 years.

Clara served as a senior church mother at Church of God in Christ beginning at the age of 29 and served for 20 years. She became the Sunday school teacher of the junior class and adult class. Clara became the usher board president and jr.choir president. She served under several pastors; Elder Utah Smith, Elder Nathan Copenhauer, Elder Black, Elder Willie Smith, Supt M.D Taylor, Elder Jessie Wilson, Ronald Thompson, Elder Floyd Crawford and Robert E. Green. She was appointed as district missionary on May 5, 1965 to serve the women’s department in the Altus district under the leadership of Supt M.D Taylor for over 30 years. She labored as a missionary on state and national levels and evangelized whenever she was called upon. She was the first black to serve on the city council where she served for three and a half years and also held the Vice Mayor office for Snyder, Oklahoma.

Clara served with Legal Aid of Western Oklahoma, she was a member of the finance and budget committee, a member of the board of directors, advisory board with Legal Aid of Western Oklahoma, served one year as vice president on the executive board of directors in Oklahoma City. She oversaw multiple revivals in Oklahoma and Louisiana. She helped build and pay for four churches and remodeled three churches. She served under Greater Love Ministries under the direction of Robert E Green where she was the Church Mother. Clara received several certificates and awards for her service and commitment to the Church of God in Christ.

She was preceded in death by her parents Duke and Luella Burris, her husband Edward Byron Johnson Sr, nine brothers and sisters, two daughters Luella Scruggs and Polly Johnson, one son-in-law Prentice Scruggs Sr, one grandson Reginald Wiley and two great grandsons Lavonte Jackson and Davian Mustiful.

Left to cherish her memory is Rita Mustiful of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Edward and Linda Johnson Jr. of Snyder, Oklahoma, bonus daughter Shirley Durrough of Altus, Oklahoma and a special friend Patricia Terbush of Altus, Oklahoma. Twelve Grandchildren Richard Jackson, Geoffrey Wiley, Trenda Williams, Camealita Grimes, Sherri Mustiful, Prentice Scruggs Jr., Estelle Osbourne, Toshiba Walker, Porsha Scruggs, Rocellas Johnson, Zuri Johnson, Byron Johnson and a host of friends, nieces, nephews, great and great-great grandchildren.

An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com