Lila Johnson

Reflection of Life Lila F. Johnson was born into life on October 24, 1937 as one of seventeen children to the late Laney and Martha Fleming in Lugoff, Kershaw County, SC. Ever so quietly, like the ocean breeze on October 10, 2017 in Lakeland, in Lakeland, FL. God whispered in his daughters’ ear, “Come to your everlasting home and be with your Heavenly Father”. Lila is preceded from life by her father and mother, eleven siblings, two sons, Harold Johnson and Jerome Tucker, and one step son, Curtis Speights. As Lila entered the world, she had many roles to play. Lila held roles of daughter, sister, twin sister, wife, mother. She also could have naturally held the role of mechanic, learning tricks of the trade from her many brothers, opening the door as a chauffeur, setting up a nursery for a daycare, or even an apron as Master Chef. She was described by family and friends as a “tough woman” and a “true believer in God”. So many knew her as “Aunt Lila, Aunt, or Big AL”, but we knew her as mother and grandmother and a giver. Lila would feed any and every one that stepped foot in her home. She did not cook dinner, she cooked meals to feed the multitude. When Lila was old enough, she was ready to work. Her first Job as an adult would be B.F. Goodrich in 1958, in Elgin, SC. Lila spent many years at B.F. Goodrich, before she moved to New Jersey. Lila was a hard worker, working as a mechanic operator at Vanguard Plastic in 1967 in Paterson, NJ. She then decided to make the ultimate career change and became a CAN. Her first job as a CNA was at Allendale Nursing Home in Allendale, NJ. Lila started to miss home in South Carolina, where her roots began, therefore, relocating to Elgin, SC in 1985. Lila was a dedicated member of the Mt. Prospect United Methodist Church, where she served on the Usher Board and the Cooking Committee. Once again, being the hard worker she was, she continued her CAN career at Springdale Nursing Home in 1985 in Camden, SC. Unbeknownst to her, she would be forced into retirement in 1997 due to illness. Lila leaves to remember her brightness and boldness and cherish her memories: a loving husband of 58 years; Henry Johnson Sr; four children, Vicky Johnson, Gloria Johnson, Hameen Johnson Jr. and Wendy McMillan (Keymon); three stepsons, Ricky Green, Howard Hayes, and McKinley Brown; one daughter-in-law, Ressi Tucker; ten grandchildren, LaQuanda Johnson, Kimberly Johnson (Glen), Jerome Derios, Quincy Johnson, Daiotis (DJ) Tucker, Alvin (AJ) McCoy Jr., Al-Jumu Johnson, Kerry Cox, Keymiya McMillan and Dezrone Tucker; one great grand child, Kayce Cox; one Godson, Tavon White; one brother, Sam Fleming (Thelma); two sisters, Leila Feggins and Alberta Ratcliff; two brother in laws, Caleb Johnson (Ella), and Ervin Johnson( Brenda); six sisters in law, Mary Jane Fleming, Mary Lee, Alberta Lawhorn (Woodrow), Gladys Marie Fleming, Charlene Fleming and Margarite Brown (Woodrow); one special niece, Eloise Fleming, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.