Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2024
CayCee Moyee “Boogie” Jarvis Purham was born on May 1, 1969, the first and only child of George Morgan Purham (1931-2002) and Carolyn Cole Purham, who was born in 1935.
Grandparents of CayCee include Charles D. Purham (1902-1944) and Mary Harland Purham (1902-1993) from Tennessee; and Robert Edward Cole (1907-1957) and Caroline Carrie Green Cole (1906-1974) who were born in Alabama.
CayCee’s great-grandparents were Peter Purham Tyus (1848-1921) who was born in slavery, and Ella May Bates Purham (1874-1914). They were born in Tennessee; Tom Harland, born in 1884, and Emma, who was born in 1884 and died in 1966, who both lived in Tennessee; Edmond Cole (1868-1953) and Lucy Ann Williams Cole (1880-1862) who were born in Alabama; and Dock Green who was born in 1894, and Luella Carlisle Green (1880-1968) who were born in Alabama.
CayCee spent her childhood in Chicago, Illinois.
After graduating from high school, CayCee achieved a master’s degree in Hospitality Management. Though her career, CayCee worked for various establishments.
CayCee married Keith Lamont Johnson on Sept. 11, 1999 at the Chapel of Love in Bloomington, Minnesota. A shopping mall might not seem like the most obvious choice for a wedding venue, but for thousands of couples, the Mall of America has acted as the perfect backdrop for their vows. It was located on the third floor of the Mall of America, and performed more than 8,300 weddings and vow renewals over the past 28 years. After nearly three decades of “I dos,” the chapel closed its doors in August 2022.
Recently, CayCee worked as the Food Service Manager at Aspen Academy at 14825 Zinran Avenue in Savage. Aspen Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school located in Savage, Minnesota, and open to all families in Savage, Prior Lake, Shakopee, Burnsville, and the surrounding communities. The award-winning academic program focused on the Core Knowledge curriculum for kindergarten, primary school, and middle school classes. Aspen Academy offers limited class sizes that provide a sense of community, uses a literature-rich, Core Knowledge curriculum, and Singapore Math, and an elementary Spanish program.
Once CayCee knew that her cancer was destroying her life, CayCee called Ken Pass, who was the sexton at Valley Cemetery in Shakopee. Ken is often referred to as the caretaker of the cemetery, and he takes care of the Catholic Cemetery on Tenth Avenue, along with Valley Cemetery on Fourth Avenue in Shakopee.
CayCee had an experience which others had where cemeteries do not allow African Americans to be buried there, and so she called Ken, who let her know that she could be buried at Valley Cemetery. And so CayCee and her husband, Keith, stopped by, had a wonderful and positive experience, and bought the plot for the tombstones for CayCee (and sometime later, for Keith).
On July 14, 2019, CayCee Moyee “Boogie” Jarvis Purham Johnson died at age 50, surrounded by the people she loved the most, at the family’s home in Savage.
CayCee was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, and grandma. Her circle of family and friends was most important to CayCee. She was an amazing cook and when time allowed, CayCee loved to travel. She had a wonderful personality and a smile that would take your breath away.
CayCee was always helping others and wanted to make sure everything was all right. She had this contagious laugh and always made people smile. CayCee was a fighter and never backed down from a challenge, including her diagnosis of cancer.
A Celebration of Life Service was held July 20, 2019 at River Valley Church in Shakopee. River Valley Church is an exciting and thriving church whose mission is to lead people into an authentic, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ where people worship God, connect with one another and are launched into God-given purpose.
CayCee will be forever loved by husband, Keith Lamont Johnson; stepchildren, DuJuan Bell, Asya La’triece Johnson; children, Alexandria LaMoy Johnson, Adrienna Lynn Johnson, Aryahana Lauren Johnson, Keith Daveon Johnson; grandson, Cayden Jackson; other relatives and devoted friends.
Diane Hummel noted, “I have had the honor and privilege of working with CayCee for many years. I will always cherish our conversations, our gut-wrenching laughs, her famous one-liners, and the light that she brought to the school. She always took care of everyone else before herself and had the best attitude towards life. Amazing woman. The world seems a little dimmer without her.”