Pearl Diana (Garcia) Johnson, 91, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her devoted family, on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.

Born and raised in St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago, she was the daughter of the late Saledon Garcia and Eugenia Augustine (Baptiste), and sister to Gloria Augustine, Michael (Kenny) Augustine, Seswick Mohamed (deceased), Monica Clapperton (deceased), Lucien Clapperton (deceased), Gilbert Clapperton (deceased), Irving Clapperton (deceased), Eugene Augistine (deceased), and Terrance Augustine (deceased).

Throughout her life, she was known to share stories of Trinidadian culture, fondly recounting long walks as a youngster with her beloved grandmother to worship at Mt. Saint Benedict Church in Trinidad. She married Fred Alston Johnson on June 30th, 1962. She later became mother to Sharlene (Johnson) Beckner while in Trinidad. Her son, Damian Johnson (deceased) came along after the family set their roots in the United States, living many years in Irvington, New Jersey.

She will be fondly remembered by all who knew her for her love of gardening, whether tending to her vegetables or nurturing her beautiful rose bushes. Amidst working outside the home, cooking and caring for her family, Pearl always found time to enjoy music and dance. She had a remarkable ability to make anyone feel welcome, opening her home to people from all walks of life with warmth, a delicious meal, a smart remark or two that put people at ease.

In her later life, Pearl was a cherished participant in the Elder Care Day Program in Worcester and was known to stir up some light trouble by asking for Toasted Almonds, (a drink most certainly not on the menu) and teaching others how to “Strut their stuff”. She was often visited by her family from near and far and enjoyed listening to The Sound of Music, Dirty Dancing, or any movie that starred Sidney Poitier.

Along with an expansive network of friends, extended family, work colleagues, and at-home healthcare workers, she will be lovingly missed and remembered by her daughter, Sharlene Beckner, and her husband, Russell with whom she lived in Rutland; her brother, Michael Augustine of Delaware; and her three grandchildren, Kyrstin Camp and her husband, Steven Zukas of Winchendon, Kristofer Camp and his partner, Felicity Watts of Leominster and Travis Johnson of Maryland. She will be missed by her brother and sister-in -law Dennis and Eva Toussaint and her sister- in-law, Eyvette Goodridge, along with a host of cousins, nieces, nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Pearl’s family on Friday, January 24 from 10 to 12 p.m. at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. A funeral service honoring her life will follow at 12 p.m. in the funeral home. Burial will occur at Worcester County Memorial Park, 217 Richards Avenue, Paxton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.