Martha Johnson

On Sunday, July 2nd, Martha Hart McWhite Johnson went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Martha was born September 21, 1943, in Harrisonburg, VA, to Kate (Wheeler) and Elbert McWhite.

Martha (Marti) primarily grew up in Annapolis, Maryland where she graduated from Annapolis High in 1961. She continued her education at University of Maryland, graduating in 1965 with a degree in Elementary Education.  She was also a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority.  Martha began her teaching career in Montgomery County public schools where she taught off and on for the next 30 years.

It was at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, MD where she met her future husband James Anthony Rodman Johnson.  They were married in July of 1968 at the Naval Academy Chapel.  They moved to Sacramento, CA and were blessed with their first two sons, Mark and David.  Upon their return to the Rockville area, they were blessed with their third son Stephen.

Martha was totally dedicated to the raising of her three sons, tending to their home, an involved member of Fourth Presbyterian, keeping up with her sorority sisters, attending and leading her neighborhood bible study as well as various bible studies. Sadly, in 2001 her beloved husband, Jim Johnson, passed away due to colon cancer.

Martha’s ever growing family of daughter-in-laws and grandchildren kept her busy and she eventually married again to Don Dean of Potomac, MD in 2010.  Though their marriage did not succeed, they remained amicable until his death in October of 2020 and the Dean family remained very near and dear to Martha’s heart.

Martha will long be remembered for her infectious smile, kindness and care to her many friends and just about every stranger that she met.  Known affectionately as Momi, it brought her great joy to continuously remind her children and grandchildren that she “loved them the most”. Most importantly her family will remember her for her willingness to share her faith and love for Jesus to all who knew her and came in contact with her.

She is survived by her son Mark, his wife Kim and their sons Tyler and Ryan;  by her son David, his wife Amy and their children Summer, Caleb and Luke; by her son Stephen, his wife Charissa and their daughters, Kate, Madeline and Charlotte; by her niece Mary, her husband Eric and their children Anna and Gabriel.  She was preceded in death by her father, Elbert McWhite and mother Katherine Wheeler McWhite, her brother Peter McWhite and her beloved first husband Jim Johnson.