Sarah Elizabeth Johnson

BLUEFIELD — Sarah Elizabeth (Joy) Johnson, age 49, of 142 Tiffany Manor, Bluefield, died on Monday, July 12, 2010 at her residence. Born on May 11, 1959 at Bluefield Sanitarium in Bluefield, W.Va., she was a daughter of the late Jack J. Peoples and Ethel Sue Whitehead Peoples. She had been a resident of Bluefield all of her life and was a former CNA at Glenwood Park Retirement Village, until her illness forced her into an early retirement. Here she met two ladies, Alice Shrader and Zelda Franklin, who would become her lifelong friends. Alice would become Sarah's son, EJ's godmother. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Horace Johnson; and her maternal and paternal grandparents. Survivors include her companion and care giver, James (Jimmy) Ellison; a son, Eugene (EJ) Johnson and a daughter Jasmine Daneille Johnson; her sister and care giver, Jeanie Smalls and husband (Hugh); brothers, Jeffrey M. Whitehead, Jackie M. Whitehead and wife Renee, Johnny M. Peoples and wife Stephanie, all of Bluefield, W.Va., Christopher J. Peoples and wife Robin and Sammy J. Peoples, all of Charlotte, N.C.; three aunts, Sallie McClanahan of Bluefield, W.Va., Stella Louise Cundiff of Bluefield, Va. and Christine Webb of Portsmouth, Va.; two uncles, David Lee Peoples of Bluefield, W.Va. and Robert (Bob) Whitehead of Baltimore, Md.; a stepsister, Delma Cheatham and husband Ricky; and special sister-in-law, Jacqueline E. Whitehead of Charlotte, N.C.; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins; her life long friends from her days at Glenwood, and Tenna Dillard, another friend, she enjoyed spending time with. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cravens-Shires Funeral Home Chapel in Bluewell with the Reverend Donald Gibson and the Reverend James Palmer officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens with Jeffrey and Jackie Whitehead, Johnny, Christopher and Sammy Peoples, and Hugh Smalls serving as pallbearers. Friends may call on Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Online condolences will be accepted at www.cravens-shires.com Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell is serving the family.