Mattie Shavers Johnson celebrated her 104th birthday in March of this year and on November 1 she celebrated her first day in Heaven, a place she lived her whole life working toward.

Johnson was born to Robert S. Shavers and Laura Garland Shavers in the Garland Community of De Kalb, Texas, the eighth of 11 children, in 1920. She was the eighth child(a twin) of four brothers and six sisters born to Robert S. Shavers and Laura Garland Shavers. Those siblings include Lorenzo Shavers, Helen Shavers Jackson, Fred Shavers Sr., Mildred Shavers Kington, Myrtle Shavers Downs, Millie Shavers Collins, Jenna Shavers Benton, Col. Iverson Shavers, Dr. James Polk Shavers and Pearl Shavers Sands.

She and the late Charles W. Johnson Sr. M.D were blessed with three beautiful children: Charles William Jr., Phillip Noel and Dr. Livette Suzanne Johnson.

Johnson was an accomplished educator, lecturer, author, poet and musician. She spent many years in a classroom at the elementary through college levels, as so many of those who hail from the Garland Community went on to be educators.

Many of those shared their talents and skills in the DeKalb ISD at Marvin Pynes, what is now known as James L. Germany Middle School. Education was an integral part of the lives of the Garland Community and those that hail from there.

Education has long been known to be the strength of the roots in the Garland Community. Those finding their ancestry in the sandy soil of the community are now and have been teachers, businessmen and members of the medical field. Their lineage traces them back to the education and the struggles found at the Rosenwald school house that found its home next to the churches of the Garland Community.

In a 2021 interview with the Tribune, Mattie said, “Our parents taught us to stay well and work hard while being involved in the community at the same time. We were farmers. We had to grow and preserve things. We thrived because we had highly educated teachers who cared about their students. They taught us social graces and how to live in order to become successful.”

Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN; Master of Science Degree, Hunter College, New York City; and Master of Science, Public Health, MeHarry Medical College, Nashville, TN.

Johnson established a scholarship in the name of her parents at Fisk University also in Nashville. Her Alma Mater, MeHarry Medical College honored Johnson with a scholarship in her name for her many contributions to the institution. She also gave of herself in valuable service as a Girl Scout board member, and a choir director.

Mattie Johnson was a lady of many talents away from the classroom, becoming known as both a writer and poet, a talented pianist, and a woman with a keen understanding of the human condition. After three decades as an educator, she devoted the rest of her life to teaching her fellow mankind through her writings and through her service as a volunteer.

She wrote about the sensitivity of the human condition: man’s inhumanity to man with a hope to bring peace and good will toward mankind. She also used her poetry to bring to light her insight and experiences concerning the challenges of motherhood and parenthood, regarding the rearing of children.

Other important topics that were discussed in her writings included prayer, the beauty of nature, faith, love, hope, and charity. She offered up character traits parents hope to instill in their children, along with other subjects.

Johnson was also a noted and accomplished orator, with her early public speaking garnering her honors in high school and college. She believed as parents we can hope, dream, guide, have faith, love and work constantly toward God’s plan for all children to reach their “goals or potential,” through guidance, example and always love and respect for mother.

Over the course of her lifetime, Johnson saw five of her books published and has one tome yet to be put in print.

Aside from her career and pursuits as a writer, Johnson was above all else a follower of Jesus.

She was a member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church where she served as an Elder.

Johnson said that she gave credit to the almighty God, to her parents, teachers and ministers for her enthusiasm and love for writing and serving others. She stated that every day of her life God gave her a new song to sing as she opened the window in her bedroom to give Him thanks every morning. For many years her daily routine included singing and giving God the glory each day.

Now, after all of her years of service to people, and to God, she now sings her praises to Him in person.