Johnnie K. Long

Chesterfield, SC

Johnnie Nelle King Sheeler Long

March 20, 1924 - July 7, 2023

     Mrs. Johnnie Nelle King Sheeler Long, age 99, entered into rest on Friday, July 7, 2023 at her home. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, July 13, 2023 at the St. Paul United Methodist Church by Pastor Alisha Hansen and Mrs. Johnnie’s son, John Long. The family will greet friends immediately following the memorial service at the church. The family will host a private graveside service at another time in the Pine Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

     Ma Johnnie, as she was named by her first grandson, Richard Gaskins, and was called by all who knew her, was a sweet and delightful soul.  Born on March 20, 1924, the last of nine children, she was the daughter of Henry Frank King and Mary Etta “Molly” Knight King.  She graduated from Zoar High School, attended Pfeiffer College, and later received a secretarial science certificate from a school in the Salisbury, NC area.  Ma Johnnie was not only sweet and delightful,  but courageous and independent . Upon graduation, she boarded a bus in Chesterfield, headed to Washington, D.C. ,looking for a job and a place to live.  She found both and took a job with the Federal Government.  While there, she met her first husband Terry Sheeler.  After their marriage, they moved to South Dakota where they lived for several years.  She had her first two of five children, Geraldine and Tom.  Terry passed away and Ma Johnnie and the children returned to Chesterfield to live with her mother. There she met her second husband, Fred Sterling Long.  Together they had 3 children, Susan,  Marsha,  and John, forming a loving and blended family of five.   She then started her life-long career at the Perry Clinic as the office manager and personal assistant for both Drs. Jerry and William Perry..On January 4, 1957 she lost her second husband.  At the age of 33, with the help of extended family and much sacrifice, she did what was required to raise her children in a  loving and nurturing environment.  They grew up spending weekends and Wednesday afternoons with the Perry family.  They also spent week-long vacations together at Crescent Beach.  As if five children were not enough, these times together made Ma Johnnie a second mom to the Perry children. Ma Johnnie loved her church and her Lord.  She was a devoted and active member of St. Paul United Methodist church, serving many years as treasurer and teaching Sunday School to many, many preschoolers.

     In addition to her parents and loving husbands, Ma Johnnie was preceded in death by her  siblings Foster King, Vivian Adams,  Frank King, Sue Lee Harmon, Berniece King, Julia Hunter, Lela Carr, Helen Perry, sister of the heart Peggy Davis, son-in-law  Mike Randall and grandson Richard Gaskins.

     Ma Johnnie is survived by her five children Geraldine Gaskins (Donnie), Tom Sheeler (Kathy)

Susan Julian (Terry), Marsha Graves (Bill), John Long (Bron) and step-daughter Anne Long Smith, 12 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandson and so many special nieces and nephews.

     In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul United Methodist, 305 West Main Street, Chesterfield, SC 29709.

      Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home (www.mrcfuneralhome.com) of Chesterfield, SC is serving the Long family.