Hail to the Queen!

Mrs. Effie Jean Johnson, 86, of Rock Island, IL passed away on Friday, January 2, 2026 surrounded by family and caregivers of Hallmar Village and Suncrest Hospice.

Whether you knew her as Effie, Sister Effie, Miss Effie, Aunt Effie, Momma Jean or Jean, one thing was certain; she was the Queen. Affectionately known as Jean; she came from very humble beginnings. She was the daughter of John Lee Edwards and Moudine Effie Edwards. She was raised by her beloved grandmother, Effie Moudine Johnson and it was under her grandmother’s supervision that she came to know her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jean attended church 7 days a week as a child. But she didn’t complain, she loved church! She loved playing the drums at services and riding on the front of the pastor’s vehicle with the megaphone to raise funds for her church every summer. When she wasn’t at church, she was busy with all things school related. Jean loved learning! She was a social butterfly who participated in clubs and was an athletic stand out in basketball and volleyball. She was proud to always get good grades in school. There wasn't any room for finger poppin’ or secular music in Grandma Effie’s house, so Jean couldn’t wait for PE classes where she could practice her dancing. Jean was part of the yearbook club, student council and Debutante’s Top of the Class. Jean’s smile and personality lit up rooms and by her senior year, she was voted Homecoming Queen of 1957 at the infamous Booker T. Washington High School in Eldorado, Arkansas. Jean was the reflection of sophistication and was always dressed to the nine. She took her queen status very seriously, as she later became known as “Jean the Queen” in her own household.

Remember when I said, “she went to church 7 days a week”? Well it was at church that Jean met and later married the love of her life; Samuel Johnson. She graduated on a Sunday and left Arkansas the following Monday. Jean said she could not continue to live under the Jim Crow laws in the south and went to Chicago in hopes of a better life. But she couldn’t shake Sam. She said she wasn’t interested, but Sam followed her to Chicago anyway and wooed her with a serenade of Sam Cooke’s, “You Send Me”. Jean married Sam when she was 19 years old and they shared 62 years together until Sam passed away. Jean shared with Sam that she always wanted 4 kids. That became a running joke in the Johnson household 10 kids later. In case that wasn’t enough, Jean and Sam were also foster parents for over 20 years. Jean and Sam raised their children with a focus on education, being of service to others and building a personal relationship with God.

Jean obtained her cosmetology license at Chicago Beauty School. She was real slick with Marcel irons and was the best wig maker in town. During her marriage, Jean started her post secondary career in Early Childhood Education through the Head Start program in Rock Island. The manufacturing industry was booming in the late sixties and most of Jean’s friends were working in that industry. So Jean joined them before completing her studies in education. She went on to work at Malco, John Deere, and Alcoa before retiring from Kraft / Oscar Mayer. Along the way, Jean found time to share that infectious smile. After a long shift at Malco, she laughed a few hours away over a good plate of fish with Mrs. Maxine Hickman, Mrs. Euraline and Aunt Johnny Mae Robinson. She also shared a few dance moves with Aunt Ethel. Whether it was a good meal from Aunt Dot, or Kim and “The Girls” (Doris and Frankie) making sure she had a stool, she always felt loved and protected by her Oscar Mayer Team. She could always count on Clint and “The Girls” to look after her.

Jean could easily turn on her smile and become the life of the party. But, she is most known for her devotion to her family and love for God. Jean leaned into the power of prayer at an early age. Jean always felt like she was missing something and she thought that something was a sister. So she seriously and consistently prayed as a little girl that God would give her a sister. It took a while, but it was right on time when God heard and answered her prayers. God not only sent her a sister, He sent an entire family! Jean used to say, “they’re not like my sisters and brothers, they are my sisters and brothers”. The Allen family has been the family that Jean always wanted and definitely needed to feel whole. Jean’s prayer life did not stop there. Jean was always joined by consistent prayer warriors along the way. Jean’s daughters called Sister Holmes and Sister Vance”The Homies” because it didn't matter how many times Jean moved away, they were always there when she returned home. Jean was a faithful member of Gethsemane Church under the leadership of Reverend Reed when she took root in Rock. After moving and returning, prayers led Jean to Harvest Time Family Worship Center (formerly Pentecostal Deliverance) where Jean had been a faithful member for over 35 years. During that time, she led the bereavement committee and participated in the Love & Care and Hospitality committees until she could no longer participate in services. Jean had attended church all her life. When Jean became ill, she said she wanted nothing more than to be amongst the saints.

Jean will be deeply missed by her church family. Those left to honor her life include her children: Terri (Mark) Sanchez, Samuel (Shari) Johnson Jr., Sandra Johnson, Daniel (Angilla) Johnson, Gregory Johnson, John Johnson, Tammy Johnson, Reshanda Johnson, Demetrius (Valencia) Johnson, Tornita (Branden) Johnson-Lee, and Cynthia Johnson. She will also be treasured by a multitude of grandchildren and great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, the Allen Family, and a God given daughter; Kim Butler.

Jean was preceded in death by her grandmother; Effie Moudine Johnson, parents; John Lee and Moudine Effie Edwards, husband; Dr. Samuel Johnson, son; Samuel “Sammie” Johnson, grandson; Robert Earl Johnson Jr., great-grandson; Tionte ReShaun Johnson - Eddings, great-grand daughter; Maliyah Rain Johnson, sisters; Pearlie Mae Brand and Rosetta Roberts and brother; John Lee Edwards Jr. (December 23,2025).

She will be missed, but never forgotten. Hail to the Queen!