Mary Bernadette Johnson, 74, of Statesville, N.C., passed away on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at the Gordon Hospice House in Statesville after a brief illness.

Mary was born July 1, 1950, in Camden, N.J., and was the daughter of the late George Paul Johnson and Dorothy Abrams Johnson. She was a graduate of Statesville High School and Syracuse University, and she received her master’s degree from NYU and a diploma from the Cordon Bleu in London.

Mary’s career as an author, editor, journalist and chef took her from Washington, D.C., to Virginia Beach to New York City, where she worked for McCall’s, the New York Times and several publishing firms. She traveled the globe from Machu Picchu in Peru to South Africa to New Zealand to name just of few of the 67 countries she visited, frequently with her lucky relatives in tow but also soloing though India and Southeast Asia. She swam with sharks, skied Vail and the Alps, and loved to serve as a tour guide around her Greenwich Village neighborhood to family and friends.

Mary returned to Statesville ten years ago and served for many years on the Bereavement Committee at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church. She was a generous advocate for animal, environmental and humanitarian causes, a lover and supporter of the arts, and a life-long blood donor. She was an inspiration and much beloved sister, godmother, aunt, great-aunt, and friend.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers and a sister-in-law, Dr. George Johnson (Mary), Edward Johnson and Dr. Dennis Johnson.

Mary is survived by her brother, Walter Johnson (Gretchen); her sisters, Patricia Johnson Albrezzi (Steven), and Fran Baker (Chip); her sisters-in-law, Pat Johnson and Frannie Johnson; 27 nieces and nephews and 69 great-nieces and nephews who will all deeply miss her enthusiastic spirit and unwavering support, her great laugh, her love of cats, and her very special chocolate chip cookies and pecan tartlets.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.troutmanfuneralhome.com and memorials may be made to the ASPCA.

Troutman Funeral Home is serving the family.