Evelyn “Bunny” Pankey Johnson, age 83, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2019 after enduring a long illness. Born on September 18, 1935 to the late Robert Elliott Pankey and Edna Cram Pankey, she was their first child.

A Bedford-Stuyvesant resident from birth, Evelyn enjoyed growing up on Lewis Avenue and on Macon Street in the family home.  It was in this community rich environment that she made numerous life-long friendships.  Her summers and holiday vacations were spent in Goochland County, Virginia at the home of her grandmother Edna “Nana” Cram and grandfather John Cram.  Perhaps it was from these nurturing seniors, modeling love for their grands, that Evelyn developed a great love for children.  In later years Evelyn proved to be a most memorable grandmother.  Awesome would be a better word to describe her grandchildren’s feelings towards their loving and forward thinking grandmother. And she was.

Evelyn received her early education at Public School 70 and Halsey Junior High School.  High School at Franklin K. Lane proved to be a life altering experience. It was there she met Carl “Eddie” Johnson, whom she married and shared sixty-one years in a relationship that was devoted, honorable and productive.  Evelyn received her Bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College.  In addition, Evelyn with a deep commitment to education, continued her academic quest and received two Master’s Degrees – one in Education, the other in Library and Media Science - and later, a Professional Diploma from St. John’s University.

Reflecting the perseverance of women of her time, Evelyn wore many hats – domestic and career-wise.   She was a wonderful wife to husband Carl and a role model as well as a loving mother to daughters Debra, Sherri, and Kim.   Evelyn dedicated her life and entire career to the field of education. She served the students, staff, and families of Community School District 16 for over forty-seven years as a classroom teacher, school librarian, master teacher, mentor, professional developer and assistant principal.  She was most vocal in encouraging and inspiring others to join the teaching profession.  “Our young people need us and we’ve got to answer their call!” This was Evelyn’s gospel.

Having a life-long love affair with the borough of her birth, Evelyn was an active member of the Brooklyn Brownstoners of Bedford Stuyvesant and multiple charitable organizations. A community activist she was known to support those candidates for City and State offices who were interested in and dedicated to improving and maintaining a quality of life for citizens of all ages in her beloved Bedford Stuyvesant.

The energy Evelyn exhibited for life was evident in everything that she did.  Family, friends and entertaining were her passion. She delighted in gatherings and fun.  Evelyn enjoyed many loving friendships developed from childhood and continued through the years of her illness. Her memberships in the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority and Brooklyn Chapter of The Girl Friends, Inc. widened her circle of friends.  She was admired and highly respected by her colleagues and a myriad of them became ‘Bunny fans’.  There is no doubt that she was a people magnet.  There are few people with such a host of friends that they can sell one hundred tickets or more to a charitable event.  Evelyn could and she did!  Get togethers at Evelyn and Carl’s were memorable.  At such times, there was always a song on her lips, rhythm in her feet and she never tired of playing Bid Whist.  Her answer to Super Bowl Sunday was to hostess Supergirl Sunday! She loved vacationing in the Bahamas, visiting often until a few years before her passing. These trips were enhanced with the presence of any number of family members with whom she loved spending time. Evelyn also had a penchant for matchmaking. She has been credited with facilitating several successful unions in this endeavor. A sports’ enthusiast, she was also an avid Knicks, Nets, and Yankees fan.

Evelyn was pre-deceased by her parents, her brother Robert “Donnie” Pankey, and her sister Joan Marilyn Payne. Evelyn is survived by her husband, Carl “Eddie” Johnson, brother Barry Elliott Pankey, daughters Debra Renee Johnson Lamb [husband, Alvin Lamb], Sharon “Sherri” Lynn Johnson Rencher [husband, Bernard Rencher], and Kim Marie Johnson Bernal [husband, Paul Bernal], grandchildren - Allen Lamb [wife, Angela Jones Lamb], Allison Davis-Lamb [wife, Talima Davis-Lamb], Alexis Lamb, Jasmine Rencher-Donable [husband, Ernest Donable IV], Lauren Rencher-Peterson [husband, Michael Peterson], Bernard “B.J.” Rencher II, Skyler Rencher, Niles Rencher, Lyndsey Bernal, and Matthew Bernal, great grandchildren - Mitchell Lamb, Darby Lamb, Kendall Davis-Lamb, Kye Davis-Lamb, Jordan Pelissier, Clara Pelissier, Sophie Donable, Ernest Donable V, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many other loving relatives and close friends.

The family wishes to thank everyone for all the love and support provided to Evelyn through the years. The family also expresses their warmest gratitude to Indira Singh, Nadia Watts, Christine Richards, Cynthia George who lovingly cared for Evelyn during her illness.

There is no death.  Only the transition of flesh to spirit!  And then the journey home to the heavenly Father. The joy of Evelyn will remain in a corner of each heart that she touched to be treasured. In lieu of flowers, the Johnson family would appreciate memorial contributions be made to support the Scholarship Program of the Brooklyn Friendship Fund, Inc., in memory of Evelyn “Bunny” Pankey Johnson, who served as its Scholarship Chairperson. The program has provided college scholarships to graduates of Brooklyn and Queens high schools for several decades. Checks should be payable to Brooklyn Friendship Fund, Inc., and the memo line should read: In Memory of GF Bunny Johnson. Contributions can be sent to the Johnson Family home at 412 Stuyvesant Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11233.