Elvena Parker Johnson

Posted on January 17, 2024

Elvena Parker Johnson, 86, passed away on Jan. 14, 2024, at Orange Park Medical Center in Orange Park.

She was born Sept. 17, 1937, in Boyd to Theodore Mills Parker and Louisianna Davis Parker.

She attended Taylor County schools and graduated in 1955, having married, Buddy McGuire, two months prior.

She began working as a secretary, once owning her own business, “Secretariat,” providing secretarial and accounting services to local clients.

She was later hired by Procter & Gamble at the Buckeye mill, where she progressed through a variety of clerical duties, including data entry, secretarial and accounting responsibilities.

The last 15 years of her career were spent in public relations with Buckeye, where she was involved in coordinating various special events and day-to-day public information needs.

Elvena retired in 1998 to enjoy being at home with her cats and pursuing her hobbies.

Over the years, she was involved in many community activities. She was a past choir director and pianist at her church, served as a Presbyterian Elder and Session Member, a pianist for the Perry Rotary Club (of which she was the first female member), a member of the Florida Forest Festival Board of Directors, where she served as chair and was the parade marshal one year.

In her spare time, she enjoyed sewing, needlepoint and especially music. She played the accordion and piano, furthering her study of music after retirement.

Elvena was known for her quick wit and her ability to bring laughter to a crowd with her delivery and repertoire of jokes to rival any comedian.

She was predeceased by her husband, Bobbie Joe Johnson.

Her surviving family consists of a host of nieces, nephews and cousins scattered throughout Florida and a “sister” friend, Edye Rowell, as well as her church family and close friends.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m. in the Burns Funeral Home Memorial Chapel of Perry with Pastor Wallace Holmes officiating. Interment will follow in Pisgah Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Advent Christian Village Benevolent Fund in her memory.

Friends may sign the online guest book at www.joepburnsfuneralhomes.com.