Alice Julia (Phelps) Johnson

Alice Julia Phelps Johnson was born May 20, 1927, in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Mary Gallagher and William Phelps. She was born into a large loving family.

Alice grew up in the beautiful mountains of McDowell County West Virginia. After graduating from Elkhorn high school, she continued her education at Bluefield State College where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education in 1951. Like many of her neighbors and friends, she migrated to Cleveland, Ohio with her brother William “Jun” Phelps Junior. She worked in education and as a private housekeeper. Alice married Nathaniel “Nate” L. Johnson on July 21, 1962, in Cleveland, Ohio. Although there were no children of this union, Alice’s life was enriched by her step-daughter Wanda Wilson, children from the neighborhood as well as extended family. Alice and Nate were instrumental in the upbringing of countless children over the years.

Cooking, catering, sewing, flower arranging, and reading were some hobbies she enjoyed. Many affluent families in greater Cleveland were fortunate to employ Alice for decades. She lived on Tuscora Avenue for many years until her health required her to relocate to assisted living and later the Slovene Home for the Aged. Alice transitioned from this life on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents William and Mary, her dearest brother “Jun”, stepdaughter Wanda, and husband Nate. Alice is mourned by six nieces: Anita Robinson, Deborah Dunn, Eilandra Dunn, Tracy Crawford, Angelique Dunn, Theresa Dunn, seven nephews: Billy Dunn, Steven Dunn, Timothy Fields, Phillip Dunn, Jeffery Dunn, Adrian Dunn, Genorrow Dunn, cousin: Annetta Phelps, extended family, and special friends Melvin Bradley, Geri Wallace, Barbara Bronson and Katie Hall.

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