Alethia Gaye Pryor Johnson

A TIME TO BE BORN:  Alethia Gaye Pryor Johnson was born to Joseph and Gladys Pryor, Sr. on August 1, 1965, in King George, VA.  She accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of the Salem Baptist Church, King George, Va.

A TIME TO GROW:  Gaye attended King George High School in King George, VA and graduated in 1983.  After graduation, she became employed at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, VA, in the security and mail department until retirement. From an early age, Gaye was a competitive athlete and stayed active with basketball, track, softball, tennis, horseshoes, and volleyball. She started up softball and basketball teams and got the family involved in playing sports whenever possible.

A TIME TO LOVE:  On August 1, 1992, Gaye married her best friend and lover of her soul, Timothy Johnson (Bug).  Gaye and Bug exemplified a force of love and compassion together as husband and wife that was hard to match.  You would never see one without the other.  For 32 years, they did EVERYTHING together and demonstrated to each other true, sacrificial love and to everyone that knew them, a one-of-a-kind relationship.  The biggest party many of us attended each year was their traditional Birthday/Anniversary Soirée!  Together, they supported one another’s hopes and dreams as each one completed the other, and together they attended Ebenezer Baptist Church, Supply, Va.  They will always and forever be the loves of each other’s lives.

A TIME TO EMBRACE:  Gaye expressed her heart of love by abundantly giving to others.  She had an intense passion and love for family and fellowship, taking on the official role as Family Event Party Planner and Executive Head Chef.  With Gaye, there was always food, laughter, games and prizes for everyone.  She made sure that EVERYONE’s birthday and anniversary was celebrated.  She loved seeing her family together and ensured that she provided enough food to feed an army so everyone had enough to take home. 

Through her many years of doing her all-time favorite hobbies of yard sale hunting and thrifting, she reached the point where it became an artform.  No one could find treasures like she could!  From all her treasures that she obtained, she gave them away wherever she saw a need or just to simply bless someone.  Gaye had a heart that never ran out of giving! 

A TIME TO NURTURE:  Although she and Bug had no children of their own, they were devoted Godparents to Latrease Frazier and Amber Johnson-Cook and adopted all their many nieces and nephews in their hearts, treating them as their own.  She was always checking on them, seeking out ways to serve them and providing where needed. 

In 2018, Gaye and Bug adopted their fur baby/dog, Jake, who they spoiled like a child!  Jake, would hop up in the truck and go wherever his mom and dad went, got home cooked meals and was always by their side. 

Family, friends, food, fun, fellowship and LOVE was what Gaye was all about and is the legacy she leaves behind.

A TIME TO ASCEND: On May 12, 2021, at VCU Medical Center, Richmond, VA, Gaye peacefully entered eternal rest in the arms of her Lord and Savior, surrounded by loved ones. 

A TIME TO REMEMBER:  She is preceded in death by her loving parents, Joseph and Gladys Pryor, Sr.; sweet sister, Francine “Nita” Pryor; big brothers, Michael Pryor and Joseph “Junnie/Sweet” Pryor, Jr.; and beloved Aunt and Uncle, Daniel and Winnie Bell Pryor.  

A TIME TO CHERISH:  Though she is now rejoicing in the heavens and would not return even if she could, she has certainly left a void here on earth for all of us who knew and loved her.  Our cups overflow with the genuine love she so freely poured into us all. 

She leaves behind to cherish her many wonderful memories and moments, her devoted husband/best friend/sidekick, Timothy “Bug” Johnson; her sisters, Ruby Jordan (Leon); Vallire Nelson (Jerry); Faye Jones (George); her brothers, Spencer Pryor (Judy); Randy Pryor; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives, friends; and special friends Turia Franklin, Lisa Sharpe, and Pam Baylor. May the imprint she left on our hearts and the legacy she leaves behind manifest itself in all of us – the world could truly use more people like her in it.

A walkthrough visitation will be held Friday, May 21^st from 6-8 p.m. at the King George chapel of Storke Funeral Home. A graveside funeral service will be on Saturday 11 a.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Supply VA. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.storkefuneralhome.com.