Precilla “Evette” Johnson was born on Sunday, September 4, 1949 in Canton, Mississippi to Mrs. Eulia Laura Johnson and Reverend Frank James Johnson. She was the 15th child of seventeen children, the youngest girl, and the oldest twin. Precilla lived 75 years and 10 months. She went on to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
Precilla graduated from Rosa Scott High School in Madison, Mississippi and went to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Jackson State College (University). While at Jackson State, she met her future husband Clarence, and they married on June 13, 1971. Their marriage lasted 54 years.
Precilla traveled the world, visiting such far-off places as Germany, France, and the Netherlands abroad, and Hawaii, Georgia, and Florida back home. She was a woman of many talents and embarked on a variety of careers – a community college teaching assistant in Manheim, a purchasing agent for the University of Mississippi and later for Frito Lay, a certified high-impact aerobics instructor, an intake agent at a nonprofit food bank, But Precilla was best known to many by her most prolific career – as a licensed realtor in the Great State of Florida. Throughout these callings, she was also a homemaker to her family and twin daughters Shari and Shana, who were born in October of 1979.
Precilla explored many interests and took up countless hobbies throughout her life. An avid gardener, she reveled in nature’s beauty and filled her home with hydrangea, crotons, marigolds, plumeria, and other beautiful flora. As a realtor, Precilla exercised her love of interior design, adding a personal touch to the homes she decorated to ensure they showed and sold well. When she wasn’t showing houses, she could be found shopping at local estate sales, eyeing especially rare finds and antiques, and she knew the location of every Ross in the Greater Orlando Area. Precilla had a creative spark – she taught herself everything from crochet to crafting to upholstery. And she loved a good debate. Be it about presidential politics or the nuances of scripture, an opinion would be shared.
Precilla was deeply engaged with her home church Grace Bible and made it a point to attend service in-person or online every single week. She brought her whole family into the routine, dialing her daughters from California in for Sunday morning service.
But more than anything, Precilla loved her family. She called her sisters and brothers frequently and spoke with her twin daughters every single day. She held the family together during the pandemic, co-hosting weekly zoom calls for years and years. She’d dial up friends and chat long into the night. She was always an impactful voice, offering love and, if needed, correction to anyone and everyone, as the Johnson Women are apt to do. Known as friend, family, “Cilla”, or Mom, Precilla will be forever missed and never forgotten.
Precilla was preceded in death by 7 sisters and 3 brothers: James Johnson, Moses Johnson, Herdis Brown, Ruby Williams, Verideen Watkins, Lee Ola Coleman, Mattie Boyd, Emma Morgan, Ophelia Magruder, and Laurrean (Robert) Mike.
Precilla is survived by her husband Clarence J. Bryant; her twin daughters Shari Bryant and Shana T Bryant of San Mateo, California; 2 sisters, and 4 brothers: Augustine Dean of Orlando, Florida; Doris Turner of Decatur, Georgia; Frank M. Johnson of Fairfield, California; Boston Leon (Carol) Johnson of Grenada, Mississippi; Paul (Robbie) Johnson of Jackson, Mississippi; Clifton (Mary) Johnson of Canton, Mississippi; 3 sisters-in-law and 3 brothers-in-law: Eugene Bryant, Jr. of McComb, Mississippi; Ellis “Mike” Bryant of Liberty, Mississippi; Anthony Bryant of Coles, Mississippi; Augustine Bryant Fairley of Muncie, Indiana; Annie Bryant Archie of Haines City, Florida; Linda Bryant Thompson of Liberty, Mississippi; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
The family requests that all flowers and notes are sent to Mitchell's Funeral Home (501 Fairvilla Road Orlando, Florida 32808). Homegoing services will be on 9-August at 11 AM at Grace Bible Church (801 Dorscher Rd Orlando, FL 32818).
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