In lieu of flowers, please make donations payable to
Dauphin Street Baptist Church
2229 N. 29th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19132
(For the building of a handicap ramp)
MERTINE JOHNS, mezzo soprano, has performed in regions of Germany, Italy, Ireland and England. She has performed as soloist with The Joffrey Ballet at City Center, New York, The Philadelphia Singers in the Bach Festival, the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, The Cantata Singers of Quakertown, The Philadelphia Oratorio Choir, The Meistersingers of Plymouth Meeting, The Bucks County Choral Society, The Susquehanna Valley Chorale, The Bethlehem Bach Festival, Pennsylvania Pro Musica and Robin Hood Dell. She has appeared with the Baltimore Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opera North, Opera Ebony, Rittenhouse Opera, Papay Opera, Curtis Opera Theater, Houston Grand Opera, New Jersey State Opera, Artists International, and Washington Civic Opera Companies. She has appeared with a number of orchestras and is a frequent recitalist across the United States.
In addition to her concert and opera performances, Dr. Johns was a regular soloist in Ocean Grove, New Jersey's Summer Camp Meeting, the alto soloist at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel and soloist at The Bryn Mawr Presbyterian in Bryn Mawr. She has lead and performed with several groups for Young Audiences of Eastern Pennsylvania.
Before coming to Germantown Home, Dr. Johns sang with her home church choir, The Dauphin Street Baptist Church in North Philadelphia and ran their After School & Adult Tutoring Programs. From her home, she ran a Community Outreach Program, which provided household goods and clothing for the needy. She also visited local Elementary Schools to help with music programs, and was a professor of English & Humanities at Strayer University's King of Prussia & Center City campuses.
Dr. Johns has a Ph.D. in Education from Temple University and is also a graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music.
Born July 24, 1936 in Philadelphia.
She is one of 7 children.
A widower with 3 children – William (Buddy) Johns, Paula Johns & Denise (Vicky) Gatlin
Two grandchildren - Buddy & Charles Johns
Favorite things to do: “Smiling”, being with her family, tutoring children in reading, writing
& arithmetic, watching old TV shows, watching inspirational movies, listening to music &
playing games, especially bingo & pokeno.
Favorite Song & Words to live by:
If I can help somebody, as I pass along,
It I can cheer somebody, with a word or song,
If I can show somebody how they're traveling wrong,
Then my living shall not be in vain.
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