Iona Johnson

Iona Calloway Johnson was born Thursday, September 24, 1931, in Columbus, Ohio. She was the daughter of Charles Calloway and Inez Redman. Raised on the east side, Iona attended East High School. She met and married Mr. James E. Johnson and to that union were born five children. Family was very important to Iona and she enjoyed spending time with them. It was not unusual for her house to be filled with family and friends from the neighborhood, laughing and having fun. Proverbs 31:10 says, “who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies.”

Iona was indeed a virtuous woman who loved the Lord, her family, and friends. She was a member of Twelfth Avenue Baptist Church and in later years, she joined New Faith Baptist Church of Christ. As a Christian woman, her spirit radiated as she treated others with compassion and was truly concerned about their well-being.

Iona Johnson was employed with St. Anthony, Park Medical, and The Ohio State University Hospitals, where she retired in 2006, after forty-three years of service. Her demeanor was contagious as she lifted the morale of patients and staff with her beautiful smile, encouraging words, and warm embraces. Iona will be missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing her, but mostly, by those who had the privilege of loving her.

Blessed with ninety-one years of life, our beloved Iona Johnson transitioned to her heavenly home on Sunday, January 8, 2023, at Riverside Methodist Hospital. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Calloway and Inez Redman; daughter, Victoria Johnson; son, John Johnson; sister, Barbara Walker; brother, Marty Calloway; and former spouse, James E. Johnson.

Iona leaves to cherish her memory her beloved children, James (Carolyn), Philip (Vicki), and David (Danelle); sisters, Bonita (Adotey), and Bernadette (Stewart); daughter-in-law, Darla Character-Johnson; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members, and dear friends.