Matrice (Hounshell) Johnson

Matrice Johnson transitioned this life on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, at Washington Hospital Center, Washington D.C. She was born in Crumpler, West Virginia to the late Jesse J. Hounshell and Mary Bell Murphy.

She attended schools in McDowell County, West Virginia. After finishing school, she married the love of her life, Harvey Montyview Johnson.

Matrice was a member of Rice Chapel Baptist Church in Crumpler where she sang in the choir.  Matrice accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church and served the Lord faithfully with a sincere heart. She was a member of the Culinary Ministry, where she loved to serve. Matrice was more at home in the kitchen at Mt. Sinai than her own.

Matrice was a Certified Chef and Food Production Manager at Marriott's Hot Shoppes, in Langley Park, MD. She could have been called "Miss Mac" because she made the best mac and cheese in the world, as well as several other dishes. While working with Marriott, she received numerous awards for her services. After retiring from Marriott, she just couldn't stop cooking those "finger-licking" good foods, so she decided to take on another career in food service with the Maryland School System in Prince Georges County. The teachers and students held a very special place in Matrice's heart. She would share that love through food and gifts. She finally decided to retire again after 16 years of service. She cooked at Mt. Sinai until her health began to decline.

Matrice loved Christmas time in which she decorated everywhere. This included even the bathroom, because Christmas was a special time for her. She loved her family and was extremely grieved at the loss of their youngest daughter, Shirley.

Matrice leaves to cherish her memories; her husband, Harvey Johnson of 64 years; one daughter, Brenda Sorensen (Leonard); Shirley, who proceeded her in death; four grandchildren, Michael, Kimberly, Lisa, Carlos; nine great grandchildren; two sisters, Verta Jean Parker (Randolph, deceased), Beverly Breedlove (Henry); four brothers who proceeded her in death, Garland, Herbert, Raymond and Joseph; three sisters who proceeded her in death, Annie, Elizabeth and Juanita; one sister-in-law, Laurice Hounshell; two aunts, Sidney Murphy and Fannie Murphy; special cousin, Gloria Carroll; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and her special hair stylist, Fannie Cooper.

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