Johnson, Agnes Gerhard (1872-1946)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1946 Oct 3 p. 3

Birth date: 1872

text of obituary:

AGNES GERHARD JOHNSON

Mrs. Agnes Gerhard Johnson, wife of Dr. Elmer E. S. Johnson, pastor of Hereford Mennonite church, Bally, Pa., and custodian of the Schwenkfelder historical library there, died late Saturday night, Sept. 14, at her home in Hereford. Her age was 74 years, five months and 1 days.

Mrs. Johnson lived in marriage with her husband 47 years and one week.

She was born in Worcester, Montgomery county, Pa., a daughter of the late Ambrose K. and Regina (Schultz) Gerhard. Her early education was received in Stump Hall school of Worcester, the public school of Upper Roxborough, and the Palm public school and the Franklinville public school, now incorporated in the estate of Ralph Bevaer Strassberger. Subsequently, she was a student of Perkiomen Seminary, Pennsburg, from which institution she was graduated in 1896. While there she specialized in music, instrumental and vocal, under the instruction of Nellie E. Hall, Alberta Williams (now Mrs. Samuel K. Brecht) and the late Mrs. Charles R. Weirich. For a number of years she was a teacher of instrumental music.

Early in life she united with the Palm Schwenkfelder church in which she continued as a member through 56 years, with the exception of five years during which she was a member of the Schwenkfelder church of Philadelphia. She was a charter member of the Palm Schwendfelder [sic Schwenkfelder] ladies aid society, a Sunday School teacher, and the first secretary of the Palm Christian Endeavor Society organized in 1894.

During the last 25 years she worshiped and served in Hereford Mennonite church, Bally. Here she was a Sunday school teacher for many years until her death and an active worker in the ladies aid society. Here, as at Palm, she was frequently vocal soloist in the worship service and was often called upon to sing at funerals.

She was a great lover of music and song, singing in oratorios in Hartford, Conn., in Wolfenbuettel, Germany (where she resided with her family for most of the time between 1904 and 1919). She also sang in many choruses in Pennsylvania.

Besides her husband, she is survived by a son, Rolland G., of Hereford; a grandson, Waldo; three brothers and two sisters, Elmer and Samuel, both of Philadelphia, and Atwood and Mamie, of Palm, and Selina, wife of Dr. Eugene Schultz, Washington, D. C.

Rev. Lester K. Krehbiel of the Palm Schwenkfelder church and Rev. Andrew R. Shelly of the Stirling Avenue Mennonite church, Kitchener, Ontario, officiated at the funeral services Thursday at Hereford Mennonite church, Bally. Interment was made in Washington Schwenkfelder cemetery at Clayton.

The Mennonite obituary: 1946 Oct 8 p. 6