Mary Heyward Johns

Mary Heyward Johns passed away peacefully with her husband by her side on Wednesday, November 30, 2016.

She was born in Rockingham, NC on January 16, 1933, daughter of the late Thomas Savage and Mary McDaniel Heyward.  The Heywards are an old South Carolina family who came to the American colonies in the 17th century and include Thomas Heyward, Jr., who signed the Declaration of Independence, Dubose Heyward, who wrote “Porgy and Bess”, and her cousin, Carter Heyward, who was one of the first women ordained as an Episcopal priest.  Mrs. Johns graduated from high school in Aiken, SC and attended Winthrop College.

Mrs. Johns was employed by the DuPont Company at the Savannah River plant in SC, where she met her future husband.  The family moved from Aiken, SC after five years to Parkersburg, WV for a year, then to Orange, TX for 11 years, and finally settled in Newark, DE for the past 46 years.  Mrs. Johns has volunteered with a number of organizations involving her children including Campfire Girls, Forrest Oak Elementary School, teaching Sunday School and working in the church office at Limestone Presbyterian Church.  She also volunteered helping with test accommodations for students with learning disabilities at the Academic Studies Assistance Program at the University of Delaware.  Mrs. Johns served as president of the Meadowood Civic Association and, working with local representatives, was instrumental in having land adjoining the neighborhood becoming part of the White Clay Creek State Park instead of becoming developed into condominiums.

Mrs. Johns is survived by her husband of 63 years, Joe C. Johns, and five children: Susan Johns and her fiancé, Mark Felix of Colorado Springs, CO, David and his wife, Margaret of Newark, DE, Joe C. Johns, Jr. and his wife, Frances of Wilmington, DE, Margaret Schuessler and her husband, Steven of Wilmington, DE and Elizabeth Toth and her husband, Lawrence of Shepherdstown, WV.  She is also survived by nine grandchildren, three great grandchildren, as well as two brothers, Thomas S. Heyward, Jr. of N. Myrtle Beach, SC and Charles R. Heyward of Irmo, SC, and a sister, Deborah H. Smith of Columbia, SC.

A visitation will be held at Limestone Presbyterian Church, 3201 Limestone Road, Wilmington on Sunday, December 4 from 3:00-5:00PM.  An additional visitation will be held at the church on Monday, December 5 from 10:00-11:00AM, immediately followed by funeral services.  Interment will be in Gracelawn Memorial Park.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and aides at Millcroft Health Center for the care and compassion given to Mary.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Limestone Presbyterian Church, 3201 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE 19808.

 Service Information