Audrey Jeanette "Mother" Johnson

Audrey Jeanette "Mother" Johnson, a beloved figure in the lives of many, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2025, in Dayton, Ohio, surrounded by her loved ones. Born on November 10, 1922, in Dayton, she was a woman whose caring nature, infectious smile, and zest for life brought joy to everyone who knew her.

Audrey will be remembered fondly for how she approached life, to her everyone was special, that is why so many friends and family affectionately called her Mother. She loved to laugh and always approached life with optimism. Audrey cherished the small moments and held her family close to her heart, embodying the very essence of love and warmth. Mother has always been a positive force in the lives of her seven children and their spouses—Kenneth (Marilyn), David, Bruce (Brenda), Jeannette (Fay), Roger (Jacky), Ricky (Chelsea), and Lisa (Bill) Martin—whose love and support surrounded her throughout her life.

As a proud grandmother, Audrey found immense joy in her nineteen grandchildren: Jelane, Vonda, Alice, William, Mary Lynn, Christopher, Gabrielle, Joshua, Audra, Dodie, Chad, Dustin, Kelly, Danielle, Ricky B., Hazel, Jesse, Lily, and Charlie. In the last couple years she could always be seen getting hugs from her two youngest grandchildren Ricky and Hazel. She also delighted in the company of her Seventeen great-grandchildren—Trent, Logan, Chelsea, Mark, James, Cameron, Dakin, Kallie, Jacob, Kirsten, Brooke, Jordan, Skylar, Nova, Clive, Liam, and Cecilia—as well as her two great-great-grandchildren, Isabella and Gabriella; also her dear cousin, Joyce Gill; and many other loving family and friends.

Audrey always loved the outdoors and traveling, she was lucky enough to find love again in her later years with Forrest Gwinn, they belonged to the Triumph club where she got the opportunity to travel the countryside to visit all kind of exciting places. With her son Roger they would take drives out in the country or to downtown Dayton where she loved to reminisce about the past! She always wanted to travel the world so Roger (Jacky) took her on a cruise to the southern Caribbean. Her favorite trip was traveling with her son Dave (Susan) to Italy! She had to tell everyone of the adventures and wonderful places that she had visited. She always loved shopping especially with her daughter, Lisa. She had a passion for entertainment that transcended the years, their was always music in her life, her husband Chester was always playing the guitar and singing songs to her and that legacy continued through her son Ricky who always played his guitar & banjo and sang to her throughout her life. She often found herself engrossed in various TV shows, with favorites including "Dancing With The Stars” and “Survivor;” an avid reader; she would sit in her rocker and read her favorite author, Nicholas Sparks, she also cherished the moments spent playing Scrabble with Bruce while joking and laughing, she loved being on Facebook, connecting with friends and family near and far, she always knew the scoop on everyone!

Audrey was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Chester Johnson, and their infant son, Terry Wayne Johnson. She also mourned the passing of her other children—Kenneth Johnson and Jeannette Gibson, her Granddaughter Audra Gibson and her Great Grandchild Skylar Gibson she also grieved the passing of her son-in-law Fay Gibson and daughter-in-law Hilda Johnson—as well as her brothers, Edward and Richard Carter. Her parents, Ora Lee and Margaret Pearl "Maggie" Carter, also predeceased her.

A visitation in Audrey's honor will be held on Monday, December 22, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM, at Newcomer Funeral Home, located at 3380 Dayton Xenia Rd, Beavercreek, OH, 45432. Burial will be held at Valley View Memorial Gardens, Xenia, following the services.

To view a livestream of the funeral service, please click here.

Audrey Jeanette Johnson's legacy will forever be etched in the hearts of her family and friends, a testament to a life well-lived and a spirit that will never be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a tree be planted in her memory.

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