Valerie Anne Johnson

Valerie Anne Johnson, age 78, passed away peacefully on February 9, 2026, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. A proud Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, Valerie dedicated her life to the care of others, both in her military service and in her community.

Valerie was born in South Dakota and was the daughter of the late LTC Harold B. Johnson (Ret.) and late Elizabeth (Schirmer) Johnson. Valerie graduated from JEB Stuart High School in Falls Church, Virginia and in 1967 joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps as a student in the Army Nurse program at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. After graduating in 1969, she was deployed to Vietnam and served with distinction at the 85th Surgical Hospital in Phu Bai. Under the most stressful conditions, Valerie cared for countless young soldiers with the utmost compassion and skill.

Upon returning from Vietnam, Valerie continued her military career in Virginia, Texas, Germany, and Maryland. She obtained her master's in nursing from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. After 21 years of military service, Valerie retired out of Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC. For her years of service, she was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Overseas Service Bar.

She continued her nursing career at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia. She worked in the oncology unit, specializing in bone marrow transplants, where she lovingly gifted her pediatric patients Beanie Babies. She finished her career at Prisma Heart Hospital. Her colleagues remember Valerie as a mentor who had an absolute commitment to the standards of practice and quality-of-care patients received.

Valerie is survived by her brother, Eric Harold Johnson; her sister, Brenda Johnson Gallagher; brother-in-law, Francis (Frank) Patrick Gallagher; nieces Lisa Anne Williamson, Kathryn (Katie) Elizabeth Taylor, and Aidan Elizabeth Williamson.

Valerie’s legacy lives on in the thousands of lives she touched through decades of service as a registered nurse. A private service and military burial honoring the life of Valerie will be held at Fort Jackson National Cemetery this Spring.

Memorial contributions in Valerie’s honor can be made to PETSinc, P.O.Box 6394, West Columbia, SC 29169 - www.petsinc.org