Nobie Ruth drew her first breath of life, outside of her mother’s womb, on Saturday December 18, 1937, at County Hospital in Laurel Mississippi. She was the oldest of five girls born to J D and Jessie (Heard) Brown. Two of her sisters died as babies, one at birth, and the other died at four years of age. Nobie’s mother also had a daughter from another relationship (Elvania), whom she and J D raised along with her younger sisters Nobie and Evelyn. There was also another older sister (Katie May) that her father had from a previous marriage. J D also fathered seven more children who are from later relationships, and who were much younger siblings. Nobie Ruth grew up and attended grade school in Heidelberg Mississippi. In the course of time, her father moved his family to the Detroit area where she eventually met Obie Johnson, who was also from Mississippi, and who's name as you have probably noticed looks and sounds exactly like hers, only without the N on the front of it. Many find this coincidence interesting and even somewhat hilarious. On one occasion, Nobie even voiced her suspicion that the creators of the movie “Star Wars” stole their names and used them for the character “Obi-wan Kenobi" (laughing). At any rate, after a brief courtship, Obie asked Nobie’s father for his daughter’s hand in marriage, to which he agreed. They got married in September of 1953 in Detroit, Michigan. In April of 1955, Nobie gave birth to her first child, and over time bore ten more children, eleven in all. One of her daughters (Sheri Lynn) preceded her in death.

Nobie was a very talented woman who possessed unique skills in the creation of many forms of arts and crafts. She used her talents to make things for her children, grandchildren, and others, even displaying some of her creations at yard sales, garage sales and flea markets. She was smart, thrifty, and very industrious. She even designed and put together some performance costumes for a local singing group one year. Whatever works of art she could conceive in her mind, she was able to bring to fruition by the use of her gifted and skillful hands, whether it was designing clothes, creating eye-catching floral bouquets, making alluring life-like dolls, or crafting beautiful jewelry. Indeed anything that fancied her creative curiosity, she found a way to make it. She was truly an artist of the highest degree. She also loved talking about the beautiful and awe inspiring things seen in nature. Her love for the natural world was evident in the many hours she spent working in her gardens planting flowers or creating interesting landscapes, which many found intriguing. She was also experienced in canning and preserving different kinds of food items for her family. She was even knowledgeable of some of the medicinal properties found in various plants and flowers. Nobie was truly an intelligent, hardworking, and caring woman whom many loved and truly appreciated.

One day in 1957, while visiting the home of one of her neighbors who was studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses, she accepted an invitation to sit in on the study. She was really excited about what she heard. But because they had to move, she lost contact with the Witnesses. About two years later, a Witness knocked at their door, and she happily resumed her Bible study. She loved what she was learning and made rapid progress. She symbolized her dedication by water baptism on December 25, 1959, after which she continued expanding her knowledge of Bible Truth and teaching what she was learning to her children. Because of her love and enthusiasm for the truth, she was able to persuade and help her husband, sister, and other friends to start studying, and make the truth their own. Some of her most joyous moments came from reading, studying and talking about her heavenly father and helping others to appreciate his great love for mankind. She really enjoyed reading about and watching films and documentaries about Jehovah's amazing creations. In the final months, weeks and days of her life, Nobie's genuine trust in her Heavenly Father was evident as she called on his name often while on her sick bed. She will really be missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her.

Nobie Ruth leaves to morn her passing her husband, Obie Johnson. Ten children, David (Deborah) Johnson, Larry Johnson, Jonathan Johnson, Valerie Hudson, Nena Johnson, Deanna Bedu, Robin (Kevin) Glen, Catrina ( Darryl) Morris, Ashley Johnson, Dale (Wanda) Johnson. Her closes sister and best friend, Evelyn Moses. Two brothers, Robert Earl Carter and John D Brown. Four more sisters, Thelma Brown, Cherry Ann Sullivan, Sherry Ann Branch, and Pamela Michelle Jordan. Four siblings preceded her in death, three sisters Hattie Brown, Katie May Crim, and Elvania Gibson, and one brother (Donald Ray Carter). She also leaves to morn her passing twenty-four grandchildren, and forty-four greatgrandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, close friends, acquaintances, and many others who knew and loved her