Johnnie Mae Munk

Johnnie Mae (Boyd) Munk was born in Sardis, Alabama on April 19, 1935 to the late George Boyd and Ora Lee Garland-Marshall. Johnnie Mae gave a her life to Christ at the early age of 8 years old. She joined the Mount Lebanon Baptist Church in Alabama and baptized by the Reverend J.S. Shorts. While growing up in Sardis, Johnnie Mae enjoyed cooking, singing on the choir and having fun with her friends. Johnnie Mae was educated in Alabama through the Sardis School System and after completing her education, she moved from Alabama to Detroit, Michigan where she lived with her sister Ruth Wilson for a short time. Shortly thereafter Johnnie Mae relocated to Pontiac, Michigan, where she lived with her grandmother Amelia Jackson. While living with her grandmother she continued her Christian experience at the Messiah Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Cummings. While cooking and serving others was one of her passions, she joyfully worked in a family-owned restaurant for many years. Her culinary skills were exceptional and she enjoyed every minute working in the kitchen. She passed on to her children her extraordinary cooking skills saying; “a dash of this and a cup of that” for all of her recipes. In 1954 her long time friends Mr. and Ms. Jones invited a handsome man named Bill over for one of her delicious meals and he was hooked. Like they say, “'The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.” During their whirlwind courtship they fell in love and married on January 5,1955. This was the start of a new chapter in their love story; being blessed with their first four children while living in Michigan. Johnnie Mae and Bill moved to Passaic, New Jersey where they lived for three years. While living in Passaic she continued her Christian walk and joined The Union Baptist Church while on Oak Street under the Reverend Alexander. In 1962 Johnnie Mae relocated her mother Ora Lee to become a part of her growing family. They purchased their home in 1964 in the City of Clifton where they resided. At this time they were blessed with two more children. The family continued to grow with love which Johnnie instilled in all of her children. Mama's laugh and smile brighten up any room. She was a woman of few words; but when she spoke it was with love and wisdom causing you to listen closely to the advice she had to share. Upon moving to Clifton she met the Reverend Aquillia Johnson and his wife, joining the Beulah Grove Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. After Reverend Johnson's retirement she served and worshiped under the leadership of Reverend James Williams and Reverend Cedric McCoy. Even though the leaders changed she still remained faithful to her God, her church and the ministries she was a part of. Her dedication went far beyond preparing food for church events, she sang on the Gospel Chorus Choir, she also served as a Pastor’s Aide and a Willing Worker. After many faithful years at Beulah Grove Baptist Church God moved her worship experience to The Roger Williams Baptist Church in Passaic, New Jersey under the doctrine of the Reverend Dr. W. B. Davidson where she remained a faithful member until her health would no longer permit her to attend weekly services. Johnnie Mae was a loving, caring and devoted wife, daughter and mother. She loved all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Birthdays were very special to her and we would always expect a personal call as she serenaded the birthday song, even calling at the time you were born. Mama was famous for using coupons, and when she became unable to hit every supermarket in New Jersey she would send one of her children or grandchildren. She loved shopping whether it was for food or clothes she was always ready to go! Johnnie Mae was a stay-at-home mom, her first priority was making sure her family was well taken care of, until her baby girl became a teenager. Once she became a teenager, she worked part-time at her favorite store Shop-Rite of Passaic, New Jersey as a cashier for several years. As children when we saw jars of Grandma’s Molasses on the table we knew homemade gingerbread would be waiting for us when we came home from school. Mama loved chicken so much that she could eat it at any time of day or night along with an ice cream float and plain potato chips on the side. Bread or rice never went to waste, some late nights she would summon us to come for some bread or rice pudding; which she had just taken out of the oven. Banana pudding, peach cobbler, blackberry dubbie were some of Mama’s favorite desserts, not to mention a pineapple glazed pound cake, caramel cake, hot iced pineapple coconut cake and sweet potato pies. Mama had so much love and affection in her heart to share with everyone who came into contact with her . She had an open-door policy which became home to many people throughout her life. There was never an empty pot in her kitchen, and she fed everyone that walked through the door; with her husband always in agreement. No one ever went hungry on their watch. Johnnie Mae was affectionately known and called "MAMA" by ALL who knew her. Life as we know it will never be the same without her especially, 'MUNK HILL', 280 Burgess Place. January 1999 Johnnie Mae was preceded in death by her loving, devoted husband of forty-four years Walter Benjamin Munk, Sr., son Walter Benjamin Munk, Jr., mother Ora Lee Marshall and father George Boyd, sister Ruth Wilson, granddaughter Lynda L. Munk, grandsons Joaquin R. Wesby, Alexis B. Pierce and Rashon G. Munk, son-in-law Marvin L. Winston and stepdaughters Addie J. Perdue, Jean Garvin and Roxanne McAlister. Johnnie Mae leaves to cherish her memory four daughters Sheila A. Wesby (Dennis), Emma M. Winston, Linda F. Munk-Felder and Sherri L. Munk and one son Gregory Munk (Stephanie) all of Clifton, New Jersey. She leaves twenty-two grandchildren and twenty-five great grandchildren. She leaves two uncles Jessie Jackson (Mary) of Hamilton, Ohio, Henry Jackson of Pontiac, Michigan and one aunt Pearl Gross of Pontiac, Michigan, three sister-in-laws Ruth Coney, Helen Berry (Furman) of Passaic, New Jersey and Burdell Mullen (Calvin) of Pontiac, Michigan. She leaves to cherish in the memory of her a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She also leaves childhood friends , Rosie, Minnie, LaHoney and Reverend Willie Jones, as they remained in close contact with each other.

Johnnie Mae Munk

April 19, 1935 - April 7, 2020