Mrs. Johnnie Ruth Southern "Mamma Johnnie" Lynch

In 1923, a middle aged man, John Burton Southern, 51, and his much younger wife, Minnie Bell (Welch) Southern, 35, along with their daughter, Mary Kathryn Southern, 10, and their son, Furm Ulises Southern 18, and probably the entire small, rural community of Springtown, Texas, west of Fort Worth, were eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new, and most likely, an unexpected baby for this family. In the middle of October, a tiny, brown- eyed baby girl arrived, and was named Johnnie Ruth Southern, in honor of her father, John, and secondly, after Ruth, the Biblical character known as the model for loving and kindness. As it turned out, John and Minnie Southern could not have named their new daughter more appropriately. Indeed, Johnnie Ruth Southern Lynch dedicated her life to sharing love and kindness. Johnnie Ruth Southern was born into a world that was rapidly changing. In 1908 the Model T was introduced to the public for the first time, and just three years before Johnnie’s birth, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was signed giving women the right to vote. Sadly in 1929, about the time little Johnnie Ruth was beginning first grade, the United States was entering the Great Depression, a time where she learned first-hand, about “hard times”. Johnnie often said that she never felt deprived growing up during the depression since her family grew their own food and always had plenty to eat, but clearly they struggled financially. Johnnie Ruth only had two dresses at-a-time when attending school and homework had to be completed by a kerosene lamp since electricity was not available in rural areas of Texas. The one thing that she did have was a family who loved her greatly, and a much older brother and sister who spoiled her at every opportunity. In 1940, Johnnie Ruth graduated high school, and then attended business school in Fort Worth. After the U.S. entered World War II in 1941, Johnnie gained employment at the Lockheed Plant in Fort Worth where she, and many other women, helped make parts for the B-24 Liberator. After the war ended in 1945, Johnnie went on to manage a ladies clothing boutique in Irving, Texas, and later moved into retail sales for Neiman-Marcus at the flagship store in downtown Dallas. Johnnie had fond memories of store meetings with Stanley Marcus and loved working “after hours” in the Neiman’s basement at night shipping silk stockings to eager women all over the United States who had to go without their favorite luxury, due to the rationing of silk which was used to make parachutes during the war. According to Johnnie, the overtime hours at Neiman-Marcus were financially rewarding, and she spent almost every overtime penny that she earned adding to her size 4 wardrobe. Johnnie always had a penchant for beautiful, stylish clothing and remained petite, stylish and beautiful into her senior years! Not long after the end of World War II, Johnnie’s sister, Mary Kathryn (Southern) Warden, along with her best friend and “co-match-maker”, Bessie (Lynch) Clack, introduced Johnnie to a handsome WW II Veteran, from Gainesville, Texas, who was attending college at Texas A & M. Johnnie and the handsome veteran, Homer Henry (Stewart) Lynch, continued a long-distance relationship via the U.S. Mail, and they eventually made plans to marry once he finished his Master’s degree. On Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, 1947, Homer and Johnnie were married, and they remained so for 49 years, until Homer’s passing, in 1996. Johnnie and Homer brought two children into their union. Both children were born in the Texas Panhandle where Johnnie and Homer lived until Homer’s work with the Federal Government transferred the family to Henderson in 1954. Henderson has been home to Johnnie for 59 years. Since her arrival to Henderson, Johnnie has been an active and faithful member of the South Main Church of Christ where she was the “official greeter” on Sunday mornings until her health began to decline in March, 2012. Johnnie is best known by almost everyone in Henderson as the jewelry buyer at Wright-Dyer Drugs where she worked for many years until her husband became ill. Throughout her life, Johnnie was active in volunteer work, and was a Gray Lady volunteer at the Henderson Memorial Hospital in the early 1960’s, a Henderson ISD Eagle volunteer for many years, a Hospice of East Texas volunteer, and a docent at the Howard Dickinson Historical Home in Henderson. Johnnie was blessed with a long, healthy life and was looking forward to her 90th birthday in October. She is survived by two children, Kathleen Lynch of Dallas and John Patrick Lynch, daughter-in-law, Sherry Lynch, and granddaughter, Kisha Lynch all from Lubbock. She is also survived by her shy yellow cat, Max, and sister-in-law, Zola (Lynch) Boston, formerly of Dallas, as well as many nieces and nephews. The Lynch family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Johnnie’s spiritual family at South Main Church of Christ and to Johnnie’s many friends throughout Henderson and Rusk County as well as Johnnie’s wonderful extended Southern, Warden, Lynch and Stewart families consisting of cousins, aunts, nieces and nephews. All of these wonderful people have extended much needed spiritual and emotional strength and love to Johnnie in her final days. Also many thanks to the doctors, nurses and all health care providers who gave physical care and love to Johnnie during her illness. We also want to thank Tameeka Harris for her care and support during “Mamma Johnnie’s” last year-and-a-half at her sweet home in Henderson, and many thanks to Mary Holt, Johnnie’s neighbor and friend, who provided a temporary home for Max, the cat, in Johnnie’s absence. Lastly, any memorials dedicated to Johnnie Lynch may be sent to Hospice of East Texas where Johnnie was an active volunteer until the end. The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm Monday, August 5, 2013 at Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. Funeral services for Mrs. Lynch will be held at 10 am Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at South Main Church of Christ with Bob Payne and Dan E. Warden officiating. Interment will follow at Lakewood Memorial Park under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Chris Cummings, Joe Davis, Cliff Hurt Jr., Tom Jones, Don Sample, and Leroy Sedgwick. Honorary pallbearers will be Harold Baade, Ray Hall, Jeremiah Kingshipp, Devin LaBay, Greg McAdams, Ryan Shipp, Twayne Shipp, Phillip Slyby, Bill Stewart, Bob Stewart, and Rex Warden. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.

Mrs. Johnnie Ruth Southern "Mamma Johnnie" Lynch

October 17, 1923 - August 3, 2013