Eva Mae Gambill Pond Johnson

Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Mrs. Eva Mae Gambill Pond Johnson

Eva was larger than life. She was unforgettable if you had the pleasure of knowing her. She never met a stranger and she had a tremendously generous spirit. She loved with her whole heart and was not afraid to show her feelings.

Eva, or Eva Mae to her family, wore many hats in her life, that of daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, real estate agent, and amateur writer. Eva was a graduate of Blytheville High School in Blytheville. She moved to Memphis shortly after graduation, and made many friends in Memphis, and enjoyed being a part of the inner circle of friends at Graceland. In 1966, she was swept off her feet by a handsome young man from Biloxi, Miss., who later became her first husband Tillman Ellis Pond, Jr. Together they shared a wonderful life in Whitehaven, Tenn. with their daughter Andrea until his unexpected passing in 1988. She never fully recovered from her loss, but she found solace in finding her second husband, Gene Johnson, who had also lost his wife. Their daughters attended Memphis Preparatory School together, but their mutual love of music gave them an instant connection. They settled in Hernando, Miss. and enjoyed a life together for 24 years.

We found a poem Eva wrote about entering heaven. She wrote, “Praising the message that Your love brings. Waiting for the moment You will appear, the gates are now opening, the clouds ascend near.” Heaven certainly has gained another sweet soul; however, she will always be missed by all who loved her.

Mrs. Eva Mae Gambill Pond Johnson, 75, passed away on January 3, 2018 with her daughter and son-in-law at her side. She died peacefully after suffering complications from non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. She is survived by her daughter, Andrea McKinnon; son-in-law, Lance McKinnon; her one and only grandson, Ellis McKinnon of Memphis, Tenn.; her husband of twenty-four years, Gene Johnson of Hernando, Mississippi; her brother, Eric A. Gambill; her nephew, Johnnie A. Gambill of Jonesboro; her step-daughters, Maeghan Mittelstaedt and Connor Morganti; son-in-law, Brett Morganti; and her precious granddaughter Brett Alexa (“Little Brett”) Morganti of Castle Rock, Colo.

Services will be held in the Chapel at Second Presbyterian Church located at 4055 Poplar Ave., Memphis, Tenn. 38111 at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2018 with a celebration of her life to follow at Chickasaw Country Club. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the American Liver Foundation.

Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery of Memphis, Tenn. are in charge of the arrangements.