Herma Jean Johnson, age 87, of Coleman, died Friday, June 30, 2023, at Holiday Hill Nursing Home with her family by her side.

The family will host a visitation from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel, 400 W. Pecan Street, in Coleman.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of life at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at First Baptist Church, 200 E. College Avenue, in Coleman with Rev. Joseph Haynes and Dr. Chas Shira officiating.  Interment will follow in the Coleman City Cemetery.  Services are entrusted to Stevens Funeral Home in Coleman.

She was born Herma Jean Corder on December 10, 1935, in Santa Anna to Thomas Herman “Sticks” Corder and Carmellia Maurine Welch Corder Blair.  Herma Jean grew up in Coleman County and attended Leedy School until the fifth grade.  At age ten her family moved to Coleman.  After being involved in a major car accident, Herma Jean obtained her G.E.D.  Herma Jean married the love of her life, Cecil Bryan Johnson on June 10, 1952, in Coleman.  With this union four children were born, Gwen, Kaye, Viki, and Mike.  She loved her family immensely and being a mother brought on many new roles.  Herma Jean was a Girl Scout Leader for many years and coached the first Coleman girls’ softball team.  Being a wife and mother kept her busy, but she yearned for more.

Herma Jean attended Howard Payne University earning a B.S. in Education, English and Psychology all while being a wife and mother of four children. Herma Jean started her career as a schoolteacher, changing the lives of thousands of students over the years.  She began her career at Talpa-Centennial and then taught at Brownwood State School.  Herma Jean then started teaching in Coleman and was a staple at the Coleman Independent School District for many years.  She was purely invested in the education of her students and their lives.  Herma Jean was an advocate for special needs children and any student that needed praise.  Her wisdom, knowledge, and kindness are what her students will always remember her for. Her legacy will live on in her family and the many students she taught throughout the years.  We thank you Mrs. J for everything, you have earned your rest.

Preceding Herma Jean in death are her parents, Thomas Herman Corder, and Maurine Blair; her stepfather, Willie Blair; her stepmother, Marie Corder; her stepsister, Billie Blevins; and her husband Cecil Johnson.

She is survived by her children, Gwen Huggins and husband Phil of Coleman, Kaye Scott and husband Dwain of Brownwood, Viki Hambright and husband Mark of Coleman, and Mike Johnson and wife Darla of Coleman; her grandchildren, Dana Avants and husband David, Andrea Ball and husband Matt, Adam Huggins and wife Charlene, Derek Johnson and wife Paige, Tiphani Hambright, Tedye Hambright and significant other Rachel Cox, Trent Hambright and fiancé Sage Richardson, Tyler Scott and wife Taylor,  Shaedin Row and husband Daniel, and Raelie Johnson and husband Tye; her great-grandchildren, Blake Hammonds, P.J. Hammonds, Quinton Hammonds, Bryson Hammonds, Cole Ball, Kasey Ball, Sanibel Huggins, Hunter Huggins, Kelby Johnson, Ralston Hinds, Axel Row, Axton Row, Kaitlyn Johnson, Kyson Johnson, and Skylar Scott; and her great-great-grandchildren, Kyler Hammonds, Ryker Hammonds, and Pyper Hammonds; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Memorials are suggested with gratitude to the Texas Retired Teachers Scholarship Fund at www.trtf.org or to a charity of the donor’s choice.