BERTHA JOHNSON MCCOY
Bertha Johnson McCoy, affectionately called "Mrs. Bertha," "Bert" or "Mrs. Punk," departed this earthly life on Thursday, May 6, 2021, bound for glory.
Bertha was born on Aug. 28, 1937, in Sumter County, a daughter of the late Sylvester and Bertha Brailsford Johnson. Bertha attended and graduated from the public schools of Sumter County. Bertha often talked about being the first African American female school bus driver in the county during her time of school. Bertha loved her family with all her heart and always worked very hard and tiredly to support her family. Bertha had wonderful, amazing skills and worked many jobs: Campbell Soup, Sumter Laundry, Tuomey Hospital, home nursing and multiple domestic type home jobs.
Bertha attended church all of her life. She grew up in the Methodist faith, married into the Presbyterian faith and launched her final roots in the Baptist faith, where she was very happy. Bertha was a very loving and faithful member of Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church (JMBC), where she served on the nurses unit, the prison ministry and was an astute Wednesday evening Bible student, until her health failed. Bertha loved the JMBC family, especially her pastor and First Lady Newton and Pastor Ricky Simmons, to name a few. Everyone knew Mrs. Bertha McCoy. If you didn't know her, it wouldn't be long before you would know her because it seems she never met a stranger. Bertha was the sweetest, friendliest person one could ever meet.
Bertha leaves to always cherish, remember and celebrate her wonderful and amazing life: two loving sons, Roosevelt Jr. (Shay) and Leon McCoy; a loving and devoted daughter, Roberta McCoy Sanders (Claude); nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; goddaughter, Mary White; godson, Leroy Williams; one sister, Rosa Lee "Bay" Wactor; four brothers, William "Slim" Jenkins and James "Pete" Jenkins (Jeannette) of Sumter, Otha (Skeeter) Johnson of Rhode Island and John Gallishaw of Brooklyn, New York; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and many, many friends.
In accordance with COVID-19 guidelines, the family is requesting that face masks and social distancing be observed by relatives and friends during visitations at the home from 4 until 8:30 p.m., 511 Church St., Sumter.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the John Wesley Williams Sr. Memorial Chapel of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter, with Pastor Marion H. Newton, senior pastor of Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, officiating.
The procession will leave at 1:30 p.m. from the home.
Burial will be at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 4620 Queen Chapel Road, Dalzell.
Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter. Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr.com. Visit us on the web at www.WilliamsFuneralHomeInc.com.