Millicent Dolores Johnson

Millicent Dolores (Dill) Johnson was born in the parish of Devonshire in Bermuda on November 18, 1934 to Walter and Stella Dill. Bright as the yellow color and the lighthouses she favored, she shared fondly of her childhood and younger years on her beloved island. Being a bit of an admitted tomboy at times, she enjoyed her school days displaying feats on the playground equipment and spending time with her friends. As a teenager, her mother sent for her to come to the United States where she resided the remainder of her life. She married her husband, the late Lawrence Herbert Johnson, on December 31, 1955. Lovingly together and no small task, they would do what it takes to raise up and guide dutifully a family comprised of eight children. With the blessed growth of the family over the years, they played a valuable role and presence also in the life of their many grandchildren and great grandchildren. As a young woman, Dee (as she was affectionately called by her husband) received training and employment as a seamstress. Her background and skill in this area would be highly sought after and relied upon by her family who would look to her for help with their wardrobes, alterations, and knitting keepsakes. Reminders of her in this regard may be found in many of their households. Well known is how her subsequent and primary work was spent together with her husband as they sacrificed many a long day and night to build their business in trucking (established in 1953). Her efficient administration as one of the backbones would see Johnson Truck Service thrive amidst numerous obstacles along the way. Although up in age a good mite, she dug deep with the stamina to continue in the business (even after her husband's passing in 2017) because she always had a heart and desire to help her family. Although able to express herself and certainly make her thoughts and requests known, she was a soft-spoken woman, with a sweet accent and special patience to repeat herself for those who "didn't quite hear her" the first time. A wonderful baker, family would plead for her making of delicious homemade apple and southern pecan pies, and hot cross buns. She extended herself with compassion for her community and the world by assisting the elderly with their homecare as well as sponsoring children in foreign countries. She lit up at every opportunity to go back to Bermuda for visits, and especially enjoyed one of the last ones accompanied by her sisters. Rather befitting to the timing of her passing around this Mother’s Day, a tradition she had developed long ago was to celebrate the holiday each year by attempting to gather her family together to travel to Cleveland to visit her own mother's gravesite and spend time with other family local there. She was game to go on sightseeing trips and attend events as invited and able. Her thimble souvenir collection grew greatly with her requests for others to bring her one back if they traveled somewhere. Those who knew her best would say that for all of the time and talent this earthly life required and she conscientiously gave, her greatest goal and desire was to make Heaven her home, and to point others to her Lord and Savior. She served well in many capacities at The Church of God congregration at Wayne Avenue. Being musically inclined, she played there for The Lord many years the piano and organ, and sang in the choir. She taught Sunday School, served in the annual Vacation Bible School, and assisted with the Food Pantry program. Most of all, she was a prayer warrior for all, and anyone could feel her faith and tugging on The Lord's heartstrings as she thanked and appealed to Him on behalf of our needs and requests. The late Elder Junius Wilber, the pastor for many years, was once overheard commenting after she had prayed that "Still Waters Run Deep." Her last days on this earth found those (whom she referred to as “her angels”) around her doing all they could to care for her, requite her love, and encourage her to keep fighting the physical disease wrought in her body with hope that she may recover. It's been said though that the cancer did not take her life, but that she laid it down because the Lord called her on as she understood and assured it was His decided time. Many and all wonderful attributes and characteristics described her and will ever be left in memory as she is dearly and sorely missed already: prayerful and faithful, giving, strong in convictions, compassionate, intelligent and wise, vibrant, beautiful inside and lovely to look upon on the outside, playful, talented, hardworking, strict and dedicated, tough and steadfast, a busy hand in the best things, and as the Lord commands, selfless and everloving. She completed her appointed time on this earth at home on Wednesday afternoon, May 8, 2019, with loving devoted family at her side. In addition to her husband, the late Lawrence H. Johnson, she joined others also gone on before her: Her parents Walter and Stella Dill; parents in law George and Corine Johnson; brothers Willis and Maynard Dill; sisters-in-law Viola Simpson, Juanita Johnson, Roberta Johnson, and Marilyn Hughes; brothers-in-law George C. Johnson, Odell Simpson, Cecil Tilghman, and Mansfield Borden, Jr; son-in-law Charles McElroy. She leaves to cherish her memory and the special bonds she created: children, Pierre (Sherry) Johnson, Sr., Lawrencine Johnson, Byrne (Judith) Johnson, all of Columbus, OH, Francine (Allen) Scott of Lebanon, OH, Reneé (Anthony) Jenkins of Grove City, OH, Millicent McElroy, and Melita (Jobbie) McElroy, both of Columbus, OH, and Myron (Melissa) Johnson of Milford Center, OH; adored grandchildren, Pierre (Margarette) Johnson, Jr. of Pataskala, OH, SFC Tyrone Scott of Columbus, OH, Maria (DéAndre) Belton of Atlanta, GA, Killian (Sarah) Johnson of Delaware, OH, Elisha (Curtis) Hogan of Maineville, OH, Brandyn (Chanelle) McElroy of Columbus, OH, Madeleine Johnson of San Jose, CA, Jacob, Cherie, and Cierre Johnson, and Jazzlyn McElroy, all of Columbus, OH; even more adored great grandchildren, Angela, Tatum, Curtis, Callum, Liam, and Loryn; sisters Sylvia Borden of Macedonia, OH, and Loraine Tilghman of San Antonio, TX; brother Walter (Cherylynn) Dill, Sr. of Bermuda; sisters in law, Evelyn and Wilma Dill of Bermuda; best friend, Viola Norford Brown of Canada; her Church family; special nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.