BRUNSWICK — Mrs. Barbara Marie Hilliard Johns, 97, died Monday morning, January 23, 2023, at Hospice of the Golden Isles in Brunswick.
Mrs. Johns was born October 31, 1925, to the late Marie Estelle Organ Hilliard and Charles Hilliard in West Palm Beach, Fla.
In 1940, she married Seba Gilbert Johns in Waycross. The Johns had four children, Marie Barbara Johns Sawyer, Ileen Frances Johns Skarpalezos, Seba Gilbert Johns, Jr. (Jimmy), and Jeffrey Paige Johns. They raised their family in the Old Nine Section of Waycross.
Her husband died in 1976 and was a retiree of the ACL Railroad. For the first time, Mrs. Johns went to work outside the home as a bus driver for the Ware County Board of Education. She would drive students to out of town sports games on Friday nights. Mrs. Johns also delivered disabled children to their classes during the week. Never has a person loved her job more than she.
Mrs. Johns was a member of Crawford Street Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School. She remained in Waycross until 2000 when she and Paige moved to the Riverside section of Brantley County. A couple of years ago, she sold her home in Brantley County and moved to St. Simons Island to be closer to her family.
In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Johns was also preceded in death by her sons, Jimmy and Paige Johns; and her brother, Colonel Charles W. Wilson.
Survivors include her daughters, Ileen Skarpalezos and Marie Johns Sawyer both of St. Simons Island; three grandchildren, George Skarpalezos II and Winnie Marie Skarpalezos, both of St. Simons Island, and Allye Leggett of Brantley County; one great-granddaughter, Brianna Herrington of Brantley County; as well as several nieces and one nephew.
A funeral service was held Thursday, January 26 at the Music Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial followed in Oakland Cemetery.
Sympathy may be expressed by posting to her tribute wall, or by viewing the video tribute and funeral service recording at www.musicfuneralhome.com.
Music Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
