Rebecca Lee Johnson was born December 1, 1935, to the union of Julia Mae (Smith) and Robert Esper Gadson in Durant, Mississippi. She had two other siblings from this marriage and one older sister from her mom's first marriage and four other siblings from her father's second marriage. 

Rebecca and her sisters Annie Lucille and Doris came to South Bend, IN in April 1949. She attended Oliver Grade school and graduated from Central High School in 1955. She worked at the Old Grenada Theater (which is now the Morris Performing Arts Center) from her second semester of the ninth grade until she graduated. At Central High she excelled in clerical courses, bookkeeping, typing, filing and was ready to obtain a real job. But that did not happen until August 1963 when she became employed in a clerical position at First Bank & Trust (now 1st Source Bank). She worked at Emmco-Excel Insurance (old Associates) as a Cancellation Clerk until 1977. Then she began her 21-year career as a health claims processor working at Atena-relocated, The Travelers Insurance-relocated and Holy Cross Shared Services until her retirement. 

Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior at an early age, she became a member of Gages Spring Baptist Church in Durant, MS. Upon moving to South Bend she attended Macedonia Missionary Baptist church and on October 25, 1970, she joined Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of E. J. Plumm and remained a faithful member until death. Rebecca become the treasurer of the church in 1976 and served until 2018 (over 40 years). 

She was united in matrimony on July 9, 1960, to Robert Travis Johnson. To this union, two sons were born, Michael Travis Johnson and Paul Jeffrey Johnson. 

She joined the South Bend Branch of the NAACP serving as Secretary in 1976. She held several positions within the branch including President from 1999 to 2002. Most notable was her dedication to the Youth Council and teaching youth to play golf. In conjunction with two other branch members, the Hazel 8. Hunter Scholarship was established to help minority students go to college at Indiana University at South Bend. She was an active officer until December 21, 2021. She was an avid golfer, having many trophies in her possession. She was also a bowler. 
Her parents, husband, son Michael T., sister Annie Lucille have preceded her in death. Leaving others to cherish memories are her son, Paul Jeffery, two sisters, Doris and Ruby Dee, two nieces, Rachel (Michael) and Carmen (Delandford), two nephews, Rudi (Donna), and Radcliff, along with their children, her church family, and a host of friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to NAACP HBH Scholarship Fund, P.O. BOX 1304, South Bend, IN 46624

Condolences may be sent to alfordsmortuary@att.net

3/22/2024 djb