Johnsie Lewis Hart was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and twin, who was born on August 17, 1956, to Elizabeth and Joe Lewis in Chapel Hill, NC. She was the 11th of thirteen children, which included four sets of twins. Raised in Carboro, NC, she left home to attend Winston-Salem State University, after meeting her partner and "buddy", her beloved husband, Monroe Clinton Hart Jr., whom she wed on July 3, 1981 in Newark, New Jersey.

Johnsie and Monroe moved to Roanoke, Virginia where she began her career as an educator. Johnsie always had a passion for educating youth and she made an impact in every space that had the honor to have her as a teacher within the Roanoke City Public Schools. They moved to Winston-Salem, NC in 2019 where she continued to spread smiles and a refreshing dose of reality to anyone she met.

If you knew Johnsie, you knew joy, and you knew endless generosity. Johnsie was the epitome of humility. She was always ready to share what she did have. She fought kidney failure for 12 years, and persevered through lengthy battles with various health concerns of her own and her loved ones, and her painful battle ended on Sunday, April 20, 2025. She remained ever close with her family and remaining siblings.

Johnsie held her children to the highest standards, knowing their potential and ensuring that through her, they believed they had the ability to reach the stars and beyond. She was an avid creator, a lover of art, of gardening, of crafts and of all things that bring new perspective, beautify and life to this world, including her plants. She adored her grandchildren, who fondly remember her as being the most funny and loving grandma ever.

She is survived by her husband of 44 years, the love of her life, Monroe Hart, Jr.; their children: daughter, Chelsie Hart-Smith (Richard) and son, Byron J. Hart; grandchildren, Bryce (12), Alexandria (11) and Carsyn (8), She is also survived by her sisters, Judy (Chris) Robinson and Ethel King; her brother, Hassan Sabir: and a host of other family and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 16, 2025 in the chapel of Clark S. Brown & Sons Funeral Home.

For a copy of funeral program click here