Dorothy Elizabeth Coley Johnson's Obituary
Dorothy Elizabeth Coley Johnson passed away on June 4th, 2014. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Johnson, in 1992. They made their home in Orlando, Florida and eventually moved to Tavares in Lake County, Florida. Dorothy Johnson is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Johnson Ludecke and her husband, Carl Ludecke, of Eustis, her granddaughter, Kristin Beall Ludecke Young, and her husband, Dr. James Young, of Mt. Dora, and her great granddaughter, Grace Genevieve Young. Dorothy was born in Cochran, Georgia on April 29th, 1921 to parents Lemla Edward Coley and Elizabeth Lalagee Coley. She was the youngest of 7 children. Her brothers were Jameson Coley, Glover Coley, Ralph Coley, and David Turner Coley and sisters Myrtle Coley and Mary Ellen Coley. Her nieces and nephews who survive her are Dorothy Coley, Mariann Overton, David Turner Coley, Steven Coley, Jeanne Mullis, Mary Beth Coley, Zoe Ellen Moseley, Carolyn Shearon, and Ralph Coley. Her nieces who predecease her are Carol Leinenbach and Janice Graves.
She was a graduate of Cochran High School in Cochran, Georgia and was a member of the Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Cary, Georgia. She lived for a short time in Jacksonville where she met and married her husband, Charles, on November 30, 1940 and moved to Orlando. They eventually settled in Lake County where they established Charlie Johnson Builder, a company which has been building homes in Lake County for 58 years. She was the bookkeeper, and Charles was the builder. Together they created homes for thousands of residents before turning the business over to their daughter, Cheryl, and son-in-law Carl Ludecke. For the past twenty years, Dorothy has been a resident of Eustis.
Dorothy was a true southern belle, known for her fine southern cooking, beautiful voice and endearing laugh. She was a Sunday school teacher for many years. Her family was of greatest importance to her, and she was greatly loved and cherished by her daughter, granddaughter, great granddaughter, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. She also was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution through the Beall family.
She was a member of St. Edwards Episcopal Church in Mt. Dora, Florida.
Visitation will be at Hamlin and Hilbish Funeral Home from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 8th, and a Memorial Service will be held at St. Edwards Episcopal Church in Mt. Dora at 10:00 AM on Monday, June 9th, 2014. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Eustis.
What’s your fondest memory of Dorothy?
What’s a lesson you learned from Dorothy?
Share a story where Dorothy's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Dorothy you’ll never forget.
How did Dorothy make you smile?
