Pauline Cretora Johnson (nee Hayes) was born in Hayti, Missouri June 7, 1942.  She was the fifth daughter Curtis and Elsie Mae Hayes.

Pauline, or Polly to those close to her, was raised in a Christian household and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age.

Polly was a good student growing up and graduated at the top of her class from Hayti Central High School in 1960.

After graduating she moved to Chicago to be near her older sisters, Viola and Jewel. While attending college at the University of Chicago she gave birth to a son, and named him Harold.

Her parents moved from Hayti to Flint and she went to be with them. After living in Flint a few years, Polly met the love of her life, Nate Johnson.

After a short courtship, the couple were married in 1967 by Rev. Herman H. Green, Pastor of Paradise Missionary Baptist Church. She served as Paradise's church clerk for nearly 40 years.

In 1969, she was hired by the Michigan State Police. Three years later she transferred to the Michigan Department of Treasury, where she worked for 33 years, before retiring in 2005.

Polly loved to bowl in leagues with her husband Nate, do word puzzles, crochet and quilt, but her favorite hobby by far was cooking. She had a reputation for pulling out all the stops when she cooked for the holidays and family gatherings.

Pauline was preceded in death by: her beloved husband, Nate; her parents, Curtis and Elsie Hayes; older sisters, Loretta Williams and Viola Brooks; and her younger brother, Curtis Hayes Jr.

Pauline leaves to cherish her memory: sons, Harold Hayes of Lansing, Nate Johnson Jr. (Icilee) of New Haven; daughters, Raslyn Johnson of Lansing, Valerie Johnson of Indianapolis, IN, and Sherry McDonald of Las Vegas, NV. She also leaves 17 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and church family.

Arrangements for Ms. Johnson are as follows:

You may watch the livestream of Ms. Johnson's funeral service by clicking on the following link:

https://my.gather.app/ remember/pauline-johnson-2021