Gloria Johnson

G, as she was affectionately known, lived a long and courageous life, overcoming pancreatic cancer in her 80s and passing at the age of 93 from Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease. G will always be remembered for the strength encapsulated in her small frame.

Her presence radiated love and joy, masking the many battles she had fought and won. She gave praise to God for every day and every blessing. To know G was to be blessed to the full abundance of the Lord.

Our Gloria was born in Lewisburgh, Saint Mary, Jamaica, on November 8, 1931, to educators John and Betsy Miles. She was one of 12 children. In 1962, Gloria and her sister Joyce left Jamaica for New York City, where she worked for the NAACP. She later moved to Washington D.C to serve as secretary to the Ambassador of Zambia. Ambassador Mbilishi would later give her away in marriage to Wilbert Johnson on December 31, 1964. They would have two children, Marcia Seymour (Johnson) and Linwood Johnson. She was blessed with three grandchildren, Jasmine (daughter of Marcia), Jonathan (son of Marcia), and Gayla (daughter of Linwood).

An avid reader, Gloria was fortunate to find a position as a librarian and would spend almost 30 years in the field, working for General Motors in Washington, DC., and nearly a decade with Price Waterhouse.

Gloria loved music and played the organ briefly as a young woman, and the piano her entire life. She shared her gifts at her first church home in America, Viers Mill Baptist Church in Maryland. There, she played the piano and sang in the church choir for many years. She taught as many children as wanted to learn, including her granddaughter, Jasmine. When she moved to Georgia, she formed a small “kitchen band” with friends in her community. Gloria enjoyed art, the performing arts, and all genres of music. When her children were growing up, she shared her love of the arts through trips to museums, theater, and special occasions at the Kennedy Center. Gloria was a woman with many interests, which included writing. Late in life, she authored a book sharing her life story and wrote a fictional story for enjoyment and creative expression.

Gloria embraced her callings and faithfully followed God’s voice, leading her to a life of service. She did so through volunteer efforts such as teaching Sunday school, English as a Second Language, Nursing Home Ministries, and Mother’s Ministries. She was a faithful servant of God.

Gloria loved to laugh bringing joy to those around her. She cherished her family deeply and held her friendships close to her heart. She could often be heard on the phone laughing and sharing life with her sisters and friends she’d had for decades. She never forgot you and never let you feel forgotten.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers George, John, Jerome, Anthony, and Basil, and sisters Shirley and Hyacinth. She leaves behind her children, Marcia and Linwood; grandchildren, Jasmine, Jonathan, and Gayla; dear sisters and brother, and cherished nieces and nephews.

Gloria’s greatest love was motherhood, and later, the role of grandmother stole her heart. She will be deeply missed by her family, close friends, and the communities she touched through the years. Her light will shine on, and her legacy of love will live in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.

Gloria Johnson’s funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church, 125 S. Jackson St, Americus, GA. There will be an open-casket viewing at noon, an hour before the 1 pm celebration of life service. A repast will take place at the home of daughter Marcia and son-in-law Keith immediately following the service.

Charitable gifts and donations in her memory:

St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

Lewy Body Dementia Association

First Presbyterian Church of Americus, GA

Providence Baptist Church of College Park, GA