Hattie Mae Whitaker entered life January 22, 1932, to Lurlene and Richmond Whitaker to humble beginnings on a farm in Hamilton, Georgia, ninth of thirteen children. "Hat" grew up in the segregated south experiencing things she refused to discuss even at the insistence of the homework assignments of her grandchildren. As a young woman she migrated north to Battle Creek, Michigan to live with her sister Gertrude where she met the man she would eventually marry, sitting behind him in night school admiring his "curly black hair." To the union of Stanley and Hattie Johnson six children were born, Sheryl, Stanley Jr., Janis Michael), Lori Jackson (deceased), Ardis and Blake (Lisa). Shortly after marriage the couple moved to Hamtramck, MI staying in a flat above "cousin" Zanny and aunt Beatrice, settling a few years later into a brick home on the northwest side of Detroit. Stanley preceded his wife in death in January of 1997.

Hattie was a dotting mom and attentive wife. With children in tow, Hattie would make the rounds of nearby parks, museums, and libraries to expose them to the adventures and opportunities the world around them offered. as Stan worked his day jo and several side hustles, Hattie assured their home ran with the precision of a Swiss timepiece. A isit by a realtor, unfamiliar with the inner sanctum of the working class African American home of the sixties, commented on how clean the home was with "so many, um...children in it,": prompting a brief but knowing smirk from Hat.

Hattie eventually went to work for the State of Michigan, as a nurses assistant retiring in 1989 after nearly twenty years of service. The running joke was mom started working because she wanted to buy a piano after twenty years her Steinway remained in its showroom.

Hattie attended church at Original for years, but after Stan's death and with increasing age she became less able to attend. She maintained her relationship with her Saviour and appeared to grow closer in her walk as her children matured and suffered through some of the hardcore lessons of life. She regularly attended church on the eastside of Detroit where she eventually moved. She loved listening to Pastor Bogel on late night AM radio. One of her main comforts was listening to his opening hymn, "To Be Used of God" becoming one of her favorite songs.

She adored the time she spent with her grandkids and was always available for one last minute pickups and ivernight stays. When we arrived to retrieve the kids, they complain that, "I want to stay with grandma." Hattie ws in the peak of health before departing this life. One day she was healthy, the next day in critical care. She hardly seemed to suffer and when asked if she were in pain, would always shake her head and tell you, "no." the entire hospital staff seemed to see "32", the lady who survived the devastation of her trauma and rallied back within seven days to nearly complete recovery. The remarkable pace of God's quickening Hat's strength promoted one of the attending physicians to openly declare, "Praise the Lord," and asked later what she was eating so he could eat some too.

Affter years of being asked how old she was, Hattie coined the phrase "32", determined to let the one dong the asking, also do the math. Her race has been won and as leaves transition to their final brilliant colors, Hattie fully displayed God's brilliance in mercifully calling her home.

Along with her five living children, Hattie leaves to cherish her memory nine grandchildren Delsharr (Shirley), De"Shaun,, Kleo (Leonard), Stephen (Landy), Nile, Miah, Rachel, Lauren and Taylor. Hattie leaves fourteen great grandchildren, Delsharr Jr., Devahn, Dorian, Diamond, BNathaniel, Graceann, Lucas, Annika, Noree, Kennedi, Khari, Harper, London and Mekenna. The Johnson-Spence-Whitaker Family reunion group counts nieces and nephews and cousins across the country singling out non, but deeply cherished of all.