My Old Lady! RIP

My Old Lady is gone - I respectfully switched her name from Granny to Johnnie Granny, it became something catchy that my son and I called her. Everything seems so blah. She was the glue that kept my Moms side of the Family sane! She could relate to EVERY generation, everyone loved going to her house. She did everything and she taught us everything. A lot of men nowadays say women don't cook, clean, etc it is because they didn't have a Granny - ya want to put it off on Mothers but its the Granny!!

I JUST asked my cousin a few weeks ago if I could come by his house and plant some flowers in his yard, he probably thought I was kidding but I was dead ass serious - Granny kept us in the garden. My friends know I am ALWAYS baking something - Granny taught me. When doing laundry, fck ironing your jeans, when they are hot hang em on a hanger and bam! - Granny taught me that. LOL - I even used to sneak and smoke her cigs, probably why I don't smoke now. Let's not get into the full stock bar she had, lol. Her house was the party house and the foundation of my wonderful friendship with my Cousin Jennifer. Her 8 track player and down stairs library were things we loved to play with - oh and her pool table, it was the old school one with the knockers throughout it.

I just knew she would live to be 100 plus but 91 is good! She was never really sick, until her last week which she fought but it came back and got her. It's a heart breaking loss but it has pulled together a lot of people - a lot of people touched by her love and hopefully we will do right by her and continue to share the love she blessed us with. Not many people can say they met their Great-Grand Mother, I'm blessed to say I was RAISED by mine! My son was honored to know his Great-GREAT Grand Mother! She will most def be missed!


Johnnie Christine Batchan Nov 17, 1916 - June 3, 2008 Passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of June 3, 2008 at the age of 91. Johnnie was a long time resident of Berkeley, CA prior to moving to Salem Care Center in January 2006. She was preceded in death by her husband, Willard "Bill" Batchan and her daughter, Cathryn Marie (Bolden) Williams.

Johnnie moved with her family from Texas to California in the 1940's. She was the owner of Cathy's Red Top Restaurant located on Stanford Street in North Oakland. Johnnie was employed by the Federal Government as a clerk with Naval Supply in Oakland, and worked in retail at various department stores in the Downtown Oakland area. She retired as a Librarian Assistant for the City of Berkeley on December 29, 1981 after 13 years of service.

During her retirement years, Johnnie enjoyed spending time with and caring for her great-grandchildren. She loved the holiday seasons and enjoyed handing out bags of candy to the neighborhood children at Halloween, cooking Thanksgiving dinner, and decorating the inside and outside of her house with hundreds of lights during the Christmas season. Johnnie spent a great deal of her leisure time tending to her beautiful yard and flowers. She was recognized for her gardening by the Berkeley Beautiful Project, receiving the Award of the Quarter in 1986 for having the "best designed and maintained" yard.

Johnnie's memory will be cherished by her son, Melvin Bolden; stepson Leonard Batchan; grandchildren: Ronald Edwards, Theresa Edwards, Rosalind Edwards, Sandra Edwards, Kevin Bolden, Chelita Bolden and Ryan Bolden; great-grandchildren: Doris Edwards, Cathryn Cornelius, Monica Edwards, Jennifer Edwards, Michael Cornelius, Brian Edwards, Ranell Singleton, Ashley Bolden, Janae Bolden, Kevin Bolden, Jr., Kenneth Bolden, Derrick Edwards, Kayla Bolden and Kyra Bolden; great-great-grandson Reggie Crawford, Jr.; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

*names n blod r kids, grandkids and great grand (produced by me, lol) of my Nana (GrandMother) Cathryn Marie*