Elizabeth M. (Gomes) Johnson of Providence, R.I., died peacefully at the Philip Hulitar Hospice Center on August 6. She was 93.
A member of the Chappaquiddick Wampanoag Tribe, Elizabeth was born in Providence. She was a daughter of the late John O. Gomes and Marion C. (Helms) Le Bar and granddaughter of Cathlena Rocker. She was the wife of the late Benjamin S. Johnson Jr.
Elizabeth was an engraver for Emblem and Badge Company before retiring. For over 20 years, she was a volunteer at the Soup Kitchen at the Cathedral of St. John.
Elizabeth, Mother Oak, as a Chappaquiddick Wampanoag Tribal Elder attended tribal meetings and the annual gathering on Chappaquiddick. She shared her wisdom, sense of humor, spirit and was a keeper of stories.
As a child, Elizabeth and her family would spend summers in Oak Bluffs on Warwick avenue. She often recounted how wonderful it was to spend the day blueberrying with her cousins. She fondly remembered the summers on the Island with her Handy and Rocker cousins.
She leaves two daughters, Phyllis J. Beaty and her husband William of New Haven, Conn., and Stephanie J. Jones of Silver Spring, Md.; three sons, Warren L. Johnson and his wife Sandra of Peach Tree City, Ga., Benjamin C. Johnson and his wife Esther of East Providence, and Rodney S. Johnson and his wife Bernadette of Honolulu, Hawaii; seven grandchildren, Russell Beaty, Alyssa Lockwood, Jennifer Hill, Kimberley Sanders, Phylicia Jones, Stephanie Jones and Nicole Johnson; five great-grandchildren, Erin Lockwood, Alayna Lockwood, Marsalis Sanders, Cameron Sanders and Kayley Sanders. She was the grandmother of the late Roderick Beaty and sister of the late Cathalena Burch and Beverly Gomes.
Her funeral will be held on Saturday at 9 a.m. from the Perry-McStay Funeral Home, 2555 Pawtucket avenue, East Providence, with a service at 10 a.m. in the Church of the Redeemer, 655 Hope street, Providence. Calling hours will be held Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.
Interment will be in Swan Point Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Highlands on the East Side, an assisted living facility, 101 Highland avenue, Providence, RI 02906.
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