Marilyn Johnson

Marilyn Lee Johnson (Aunt Marilyn, Ms. Marilyn) born June 29,1952 to the late Edith Marie Kelso Johnson and John Wesley Johnson, Sr. in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was the third oldest of eleven children. She departed this life on Monday, July 28, 2025, after a brief illness at home surrounded by her family.  She was greatly loved and treasured by everyone who knew her, full of love and grace, and always at her best when helping others.

Marilyn accepted Jesus Christ early in life, she was a faithful member of Beulah Church of God Holiness where she served as President of Young Girls Christian League, the Usher Board, Matron’s Christian League Auxiliary Treasurer, Captain of the Building Fund Committee where she loved to do food sale fundraisers, cooking fish, and making desserts.  She loved the Lord and was always willing to help where needed with a quiet and humble spirit. She grew up in the Brickyard Bearden Community and attended Lyons View Elementary School and then on to graduate from Bearden High School Class of 1970.  She worked for many years at Comers Drug Store, as a Pharmacist Assistant and went on to further her medical career and attended Knoxville Vocational Nursing School. She graduated in April 1978 earning a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) degree.  After graduation, she was employed by Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and retired in 2019 with 42 years of service.  After retiring she began working at home making Hot Tamales, cream cheese cookies and donating most of her earnings to her church’s building fund rally.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Shirley E. Johnson, brother, John W. Johnson, Jr., and niece, Kendra Johnson, nephew, Jabbar Matthew Brown and great niece Brooke Calloway along with several cousins, aunts and uncles.

She leaves to celebrate her home-going, loving and devoted son G’daylah (Lindsey) Lane; granddaughter, Nelli Edith, (and an unborn grandchild), grandsons; Braylen & Declon Moore.  Sisters; Janice and Kathy Johnson, Allison Moulden, Joan Donohoo, and Linda Stacy; all of Knoxville, TN., Edith (Wayne) Walker of Seymour, TN., Gail (Robert) Cannon of Dayton, Ohio and brother Fred (Donna) Johnson of Oak Ridge, TN.  Several friends too include Sally Bush, Carol Linder, Sandra Tipton and Dena Smith, Gloria Deathridge and some of the nurses and staff that she worked with on 5 West at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center including Carla, Allison, Jason, Holly, Cynthia, Sherola and many others too numerous to name.  

Special thanks to Dr. Rizwan Tariq, Drs. Dragos and Ileana Munteau and their staff for the compassion and love shown toward Marilyn and her family during a very difficult time.  She also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who loved her and will miss her deeply.

Family will receive Friends on Friday, August 8, 2025, 7:00pm – 8:00pm at Beulah Church of God-Holiness,1510 University Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee 37921.

There will be a viewing one hour prior to the services from10:00am – 11:00am 

Funeral Services on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Greater Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church, 3800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee 37914 with Elder John R. Alexander, Jr., Officiating