Johnson Funeral Home
https://www.tljohnsonfuneralservice.com
REMEMBERING, A. ROSETTA PINKNEY JOHNSON
October 5, 1930- July 15, 2024
Daughter of the late Howard Alexander Pinkney and Alma Farmer Pinkney, Agnes "Rosetta" "Rosie" "Rose" Pinkney Johnson, entered this life on October 5, 1930, in Washington, DC, and was called to her Heavenly rest on July 15, 2024. Years after her ill mother's passing, her father, got remarried to Ms. Elnora McPherson. The family relocated from Washington, DC to a farm in Waldorf, Maryland. This city girl was excited about living in the country and embraced her childhood through teenage years on the farm with extended family Momma and Poppa McPherson, brother Roscoe Pinkney, aunts, uncles and cousins and half-sister Stacey. The love of a big family and cherishing others in need was instilled in the heart of Rosetta.
After graduating from Pomonkey High School, Rosetta moved to New Jersey to live with her father's family. She earned a living by working at a sewing factory. She later mastered the skill of sewing/tailoring by making her clothes for her children and herself. Rosetta passed on the skill to some of her children and they customized their family clothing and upholstery.
Austin "Leroy" Johnson, Sr. courted Rosetta while she lived in New Jersey and they never lost touch. In 1949, Rosetta moved back to Charles County and married Leroy. From their union came four daughters, two sons, eight grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. When Leroy passed in February 2024, the couple had celebrated 74 1/2 years of love.
Rosetta decided to attend cosmetology school. Upon completion, she worked at Blue Haven for a couple of years in La Plata, MD. In 1969, Rosetta opened her own home base business, Rosetta's Beauty Salon, and eventually hired two licensed cosmetologists (one was her daughter, Janice). She believed in doing everything with excellence. So she continued to enhance her skills and licensure by taking continuing education classes in Maryland and Washington, DC. She also participated in hair/fashion shows throughout the DMV area. She believed if you keep an open mind in terms of learning you will always be current. Rosetta was a known cosmetologist who keep your hair healthy and beautiful. Her go-to healthy hair supplies were by Dudley Products in Greensboro, North Carolina. Eventually, she became an independent distributor of Dudley Products. In Charles County, Maryland, Rosetta's Beauty Salon was one of just a few black-owned businesses in La Plata that successfully operated for more than 45 years. Rosetta generously provided styling and salon services to all races, disabilities, and residents of Southern Maryland. She also serviced long-term residents at various nursing homes. Her legacy and love of the profession continues through her daughter and grandchildren.
The move to Southern Maryland set Rosetta on a course to make a difference in the lives of African Americans in Charles County, a then segregated community. Rosetta joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1960. She fondly recalled an early morning visit by local chapter leaders, Luther Stuckey and Dupree Monk inviting her to a meeting. The NAACP was an empowering organization aligned with Rosetta's concerns for the inequalities her family, friends, and colleagues encountered in her community. As a member, she worked tirelessly to effect positive change, create more opportunities, and help better the lives of African Americans in the county. Rosetta and her children attended the 1963 "March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom" led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. She also attended, in 2013, with her granddaughter the "A Day Like No Other: 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington" to commemorate the historic non-violent demonstration and civil rights landmark. Among many speakers that day, the former President Barack Obama addressed the attendees.
Notably, Rosetta was instrumental in helping change the admittance policy for African Americans at Physician's Memorial Hospital in La Plata, MD (known as University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center). She also participated in the Freedom Riders Movement in the 1950s to advocate for integration in restaurants in Charles County. As a result of this and other peaceful demonstrations, restaurants began to integrate. Rosetta marched many miles, participated in demonstrations outside the courthouse in La Plata protesting segregation, and worked hard to secure better jobs and equal pay for African American citizens in her community.
Rosetta faithfully served as a community leader, participating in many annual local events such as the African American Heritage Society of Charles County (past member) Celebration at the Clark Center in La Plata, Walk for the Homeless, Memory Walk for a Cure for Alzheimer's, American Legion Auxiliary MD Unit 170, Pomonkey High School Alumni Association, and many outreach events supporting cancer research. Rosetta herself survived cancer for over 44 years and donated annually to raise funds for treatment and a cure.
Rosetta and Leroy collectively supported progressive local politicians in Charles County and on the state level. Rosetta would participated in numerous rallies such as voter registration and advertised candidates by putting signs in their yard. She was proud of her accomplishments and considered it a distinct honor to be recognized by the NAACP of Charles County at their Delivering Excellence through Lifelong Service Program. Local politicians, community service organizations, and leadership organizations attended to show support for the NAACP and its honorees. Rosetta said, "Humanity still has obstacles to overcome, and I pray that mankind will eventually learn to work together to have a better understanding of each other." She believed that "learning to work together and fostering relationships between cultures will make a difference in this world that will be beneficial to all."
Rosetta had many talents and hobbies, including gardening(flowers, herbal plants, and vegetables), sewing, cooking, drawing, dancing, and singing in various choirs such as Catholic parish and senior centers. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and cousin, who always put her family first. She attended her family cookouts, reunions, children events and grandkids/great grandkids various activities and graduations.
The church was always Rosetta's strength. She inherited the love of God and community from her great grandfather John Robert Pinkney who was an active trustee of Colored Northern Episcopal Methodist Church established in 1870. He was a faithful and instrumental member of the historic Asbury United Methodist Church in Brandywine, MD. Rosetta accepted Christ at an early age and, in 1954, changed her church membership at St. Paul's Episcopal Church (known as Piney Church) to join Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Plata with her husband, Leroy. Over the years, she remained an active member of church and community choirs, was a member of our Scared Heart Sodality, attending conferences such as Black Catholics Ministry Liturgy Conference in DC and often provided transportation to Catholic mass for those in need. She also served as a member of the Sacred Heart Gospel Choir, Clarke Senior Center Gospel Choir and Pomonkey High School Alumni Association.
Cherishing her legacy and memory are Katherine "Kathy" Randall (Ralph), Janice Greenfield, Deborah Hinton (Ric), Austin Leroy Johnson, Jr. (Laurie); her sister Stacey Pinkney Robinson; sister-in-law Catherine Johnson; brother-in-laws John "Buster" Bond (Irene), and James Russell, Sr.; (13) great-grandchildren many loving nieces and nephews as well as a host of family and friends especially best friend, Amy Scroggins and Irene Bond.
Visitation will be held on Thursday August 8th from 5pm to 8pm at Terrence L Johnson Funeral Service, 27 Industrial Park Drive, Waldorf, MD 20602, www.TLjohnsonfuneralservice.com
Viewing on Friday, August 9th from 8:30am to 10:00am at Sacred Heart Church, 201 St. Mary's Avenue, La Plata, MD 20646. Mass of Christian Burial from 10:00am to 11:00am.
Interment
Friday, August 9, 2024 @ 2:30pm
Deacon Keith Somerville
Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery
11302 Crain Hwy, Cheltenham, MD 20623
In lieu of flowers, please honor Agnes Rosetta Pinkney Johnson by donating to www.cancer.org/about-us/local/maryland.html or call 800-227-2345.
LINKS
SOMD News / Maryland Independent / Enterprise / Calvert Recorder
http://www.somdnews.com/section/news07
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