Dessie M. Fullerton was born to the late Rev. Vora Lee (V.L.) and Savannah Cummings on August 6, 1927 in Magnolia, Arkansas. She graduated from the Nevada County Training School of Rosston, Arkansas. She moved with her parents to Muskegon Heights Michigan. Later moving to Battle Creek, Michigan and uniting in marriage to Charlie Johnson, Sr. To this union three children were born, Charlie Johnson Jr., Vora Lee Johnson and Vonda Johnson. On October 7, 1973 she was united in marriage to Darefore Fullerton. No children were born to this union.

Dessie was baptized in August 1938 at Home Near Baptist Church in Magnolia Arkansas under Rev. P. Williams. After moving to Battle Creek, she became a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church (First Salem Missionary Baptist Church) where she remained for 60 + years and served in many capacities: Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary, and Teacher Baptist Training Union. She was a member of the Nurses Guild, Missionary Ministry, Choir and was also a Trustee.

She attended Kellogg Community College and became a Registered Radiologic Technologist RT and Registered Technologist in Mammography RT, She was in the First Afro-American Certified Hospital Visitation Ministry, Community Home Care Giver, and received Special Recognition from Hospice Healthcare.

She was a member of the Chain Lake District Missionary Baptist Association for 29 + years and worked in the capacity of Financial Secretary. She also was active in the Wolverine State Convention and worked in the areas of Committee Enrollment, Finance Committee, Assistant Worship Leader and United Sister Hood. She participated in the National Baptist Convention and was active in the Women Ministry Region 3 Finance Committee.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her sons: Burl James Johnson and Charlie Johnson Jr. and brothers and sisters: Arthur (Deacon) Cummings, David Cummings, Eugene Cummings, Johnny Cummings, Hazel Moss, Bessie Miller, Roberta Gilmore.

She leaves to cherish her memory her husband,Darefore, one son, Vora Lee (Deborah) Johnson of Denver, Colorado, and her daughter Vonda Johnson of Southfield, Michigan. Three sisters: Earl Lee (Ben) Mason, Emma (Clifford) Pulley, and Bobbie Smith of Tallahassee, Florida; seven grand children: Vora C. Johnson and Stephanie Johnson of Denver, Colorado, Dessie Johnson of Lansing Michigan, Sheila (Salatha) Willis of Syracuse, New York, Charles Andre Johnson of Tampa, Florida, David Johnson and Lance Johnson of Southfield, Michigan, four great grand children: Destin Foy of Lansing Michigan, Terrell and Sion Willis of Syracuse, New York and Andre (Sir) Johnson of Tampa, Florida.