Colonel Annette White Johnson

Mrs. Colonel Annette Marie (White) Johnson passed away peacefully on April 30th, 2020, in Atlanta, Georgia at the age of 91.

Annette is survived by her husband Colonel Edward James Johnson, her children Barbara Annette Glick (David), Steven Edward Johnson, Linda Marie Crickenberger (Charles), and Christine Beth Thurley (Richard), her granddaughters Lila Alani Glick and Caitlin Renée Thurley, her brother George Alvarian White, her sister Anita Louise Stephens (Bill), and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and other extended family members.

Annette Marie White was born on May 31st, 1928, in Rockford, Illinois, to John William White and Teresa Elisabeth (Schmidt) White. She was the fourth of nine children, and a dear sister to her siblings Augusta Elizabeth “Betty” Krause, Jack Gottfried White, Carl William White, George Alvarian White, Jean Edward White, Aileen “Barbara” White, Peter Anton White, and Anita Louise Stephens.

After graduating from Joliet (Illinois) High School in 1946, Annette went on to study at the Salvation Army Training College in Chicago, Illinois, and was commissioned as a Salvation Army Officer in 1951.

On September 5th, 1952, she married Lieutenant Edward James Johnson in Battle Creek, Michigan, thus beginning a marriage that would last almost 68 years.

During her Salvation Army career spent offering her “Heart to God and Hand to Man,” Annette held a variety of appointments throughout the Midwest, East, and South. Among other appointments, she worked as a Corps Commanding Officer, was assigned duties within the Territorial Finance Department, was a Camp Director, and, for most of her career, worked in a wide variety of Women’s Programs and Services.

One of the great honors bestowed upon Annette Johnson during her career was that she was selected to be the first married female Corps Officer to attend the Salvation Army’s International College for Officers (ICO) in London, England.

Throughout her career, both Annette Johnson and her husband Edward were known for their passion in evangelism and music, and their strong administrative gifts. And most of all, Annette was known for her loving kindness and compassion, both in an official capacity and personally.

Mrs. Colonel Annette Johnson retired from her last appointment in Chicago, Illinois in November of 1993 and relocated with her husband Edward to Marietta, Georgia. After living in Marietta for over 20 years, in July of 2014 she and Edward moved to Atlanta, Georgia.

After her retirement, Annette continued working in Women’s Services, and continued to mentor, not just Salvation Army Officers, but many people throughout her entire life. In addition, she enjoyed singing in the Songsters and playing in the Band at whatever Corps she attended.

In spite of her storied and successful career, Annette always felt that her most important “appointment” was as a loving wife to Edward, devoted mother to Barbara, Steven, Linda, and Christine, beloved grandmother to Lila and Caitlin, and a dedicated and caring daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, great aunt, and friend to members of her large extended family.

Mrs. Colonel Annette Johnson was laid to rest at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia on May 5th, 2020 in the presence of family and dear friends. A Memorial Service celebrating Annette Johnson’s life is pending (announcement of date and time forthcoming).

To honor Colonels Edward and Annette Johnson, and in memoriam, the family has set up a fund to which donations can be made in lieu of flowers.

https://www.atlantatemple.com/give/
(you may copy and paste the above link in your web browser or scroll to bottom of this page and click on the "Visit Website" button shown below "Memorial Contributions")

~ Scroll down, choose FUND “The Salvation Army, Atlanta Temple Corps”
~ Choose SUB FUND “Memorial Gift – Colonel Edward Johnson”
~ Donate desired amount and click on “SUBMIT!”

Finally, the family would like to thank both the King’s Bridge Retirement Center staff and the A.S. Turner and Sons staff for their care, dedication, support, and respect during this challenging time.