Shirley Johnson was the strongest woman many will ever know. She passed peacefully in hospice care, surrounded by her children, as they stood by her side in her final moments. Her legacy of resilience, love, and undeniable strength will live on through her family.

She carried her battles with grace, rarely showing the weight she bore, and persevered through life with unwavering resilience. Above all else, she loved her children deeply and wanted nothing but the best for them. She would give her last without hesitation, always placing her family before herself. One of her greatest joys was being a grandmother. She proudly embraced the name “Mimi,” choosing it because she didn’t want anything that sounded old. Her grandchildren knew her as a source of love, laughter, and warmth, and that bond was something she cherished deeply.

She worked for the Springfield Sunday Republican newspaper where she dedicated herself faithfully to her work. She found joy in music like funk, soul, and R&B records which she played daily. Her records filled the home, and she could often be found dancing and getting down in the living room, letting the music move her spirit.

She is survived by her children: Jermaine Johnson, Damon Johnson and his wife Christine, Walter Johnson and his wife Laurie, and Shakia Barron and her husband James. Her grandchildren: Karina Johnson, Zaria Johnson, Mary Isabella Johnson, Isaiah Johnson, Jayden Thomas, Andrew Johnson, and Anaya Barron. Her great-grandchild: Hezekiah Johnson. She also leaves behind several nieces and nephews whom she adored.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Walter Johnson; and her siblings, Evelyn Reid, Valerie Reid, Arneda Reid, Pamela Reid, Barbara Lyles-Richardson, and Samuel Jackson.

A memorial service will be held in her honor. She will be deeply missed and forever loved.

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