She was the daughter of the late Mitchell Dean and Frances Marshall Herron. Millie is survived by her daughter, Kelli Johnson Watson; grandson, Andrew Cardon Watson; sister, Shirley Herron Bowen; and special friends, Cati Payne, Fredy Echeverria, Karlan Layne, and John Layne.
Millie was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Russell “Pete” Johnson; daughters, Sharon Johnson Taylor and Anne Renee Johnson; and son-in-law, John “JT” Taylor. Also preceding her in death are siblings, Mitchell D. Herron, Jr. (Rosa), Delma H. Gentry (Craig), Virginia H. Dodd (Calvin), and Patsy H. Thomason; brothers-in-law John S. Bowen, Jr. and Robert R. Johnson; and sister-in-law, Ruby Johnson Marsh.
Throughout the years, Millie and her husband, Pete, co-owned many now iconic local businesses such as The White Spot, The Hoo’s Kitchen, and Wayside Takeout. In her early years, Millie or “Mils”, as her girls liked to call her, enjoyed raising her children with the other great families who lived on Monte Vista Avenue, vacationing in the summer at Nags Head, annual holiday trips to New York City, traveling with friends to watch the Virginia Cavaliers play in ACC basketball tournaments, and watching her grandson play baseball at Quarry Park. In later years Mils enjoyed spending time at home with her family, listening to music, working cross word puzzles, eating peanuts, playing cards and charades, and relaxing with a glass of wine at the end of the day.
Mils was a great wife, mom, and grandmother and her love and great sense of humor will be always remembered and greatly missed.
A graveside service for Millie and her daughter, Sharon Taylor, who also recently passed away, will be conducted 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 22, 2021, at Monticello Memory Gardens with the Reverend Greg Anderson officiating.
Donations in her memory may be made to Belmont Baptist Church, 830 Monticello Avenue, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 or Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department at P.O. Box 7002, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902.
