Elizabeth Anne Johnson

Elizabeth (Ellie) Anne Johnson, born on June 25, 1993, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, went to her eternal home on March 1, 2025, peacefully, and unexpectedly, in her sleep. She was the beloved wife of Molly, sister to Cassie Semler (Tyler) and Nicky Johnson (Ashton), and ‘sister-in-heart’ to Eamonn Cronin, Micajah (Mickey) Anderson, and especially to Taylor Simpson. She was particularly proud to be a loving Aunt to Rosie, Ginny, Lia, and McKinley. She was, and will always be, the beloved daughter of Don and Lori Johnson. She was also ‘cat Mom’ to Frankie, Beanie, Elmo, Brooklyn, and Bobby.

Ellie has been a shining light in the lives of her family and friends in her too quick time on earth. Her strength, compassion, and humor will be missed by all who knew her. Her passing has left a hole in the hearts of her family and friends, but the loss is tempered with the knowledge that her love was so strong that we can always feel it when we think of her in our hearts and minds.

Ellie is the cherished granddaughter of Carl and Sharon (Nana) (deceased) Tawney, and Ron and Le An Johnson (both deceased), who recently passed on and we are certain they met her at the Gates with love, smiles, and tears! She also leaves behind several uncles and aunts, and several cousins who she routinely kept up with and who she loved very much.

Ellie graduated with honors from St Joseph Catholic School in Martinsburg, WV, and from Hedgesville High School in Hedgesville, WV. She attended Shepherd University obtaining her degree in social work where she quickly took on leadership roles as an event planner for the Campus Program Board, student government leader, member of the Multicultural Leadership team and served as senior class president. Her role as a resident assistant allowed her to help her peers find connection and belonging, a calling that continued after her graduation as she entered the social work program at Walden University, where she completed her master’s degree in social work. Her dedication to those being marginalized was evident from an early age and led her to a career in child advocacy, homelessness advocacy, and as a licensed therapist to struggling children, teachers, and adults in crisis. She was very proud to be a coach and mentor for young girls as part of the Girls on the Run organization. She was an outstanding public speaker and was asked to present to many local, statewide, and national panels on issues related to child advocacy and ending homelessness.

All who knew Ellie would comment on her heart, her humor, and her passion to help those less fortunate and those being marginalized, such as abused children, single-mothers, and the LGBTQ community. She had a rare gift to lead people with dignity and with love, and to make everyone she met feel empowered to be a better person.

While Ellie is no longer on this earth, her memory lives on in those that love her and in those who use her short life as an example of love, compassion, strength, courage, and (sometimes inappropriate!) humor! She will be missed, but her stories and legacy cannot be forgotten and cannot fail to bring a smile to those who remember her!

A Celebration of Life service to honor the life of Ellie Anne Johnson will be held on Friday, March 7, 2025, at 4:00pm, at Tuscarora Presbyterian Church. A visitation will be held one hour prior to her Celebration of Life service from 3:00pm-4:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family knows that Ellie would wish for her friends and family to make a special point to love each other or to try and make a small difference in the life of someone struggling and/or donations may be made to the Berkeley County Harm Reduction Program in memory of Ellie and all her hard work and dedication in helping others.