Nancy Holliman Johnson

Nancy Roena Holliman Johnson (“Nanni” to her nieces and anyone else who wanted to call her that) was born on February 9, 1921, in Indianapolis to Benjamin William and Fannie Black Holliman. She and her sister, (Mary) Louise, were raised in a house at 510 N. Blackford Street, now the site of an IUPUI parking garage. Nancy, her sister Louise, and brother-in-law Tom, always wanted to be able to go back downtown to live. In 1996, they built a duplex home in the historical Indiana Avenue area they had always loved, and moved back downtown to live out the remainder of their lives.

Nancy was one of only five Black students accepted each year (at the time) to Butler University, and graduated from there with her Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) degree in Physical Education and English in 1941 at the age of 20. She later received her Masters of Arts in English, also from Butler. Nancy taught P.E. and English in many different Indianapolis Public Schools for 40 years, before retiring from Washington High School in 1981. She loved learning and excelled at passing that love on to others, and continued as an unofficial advisor and mentor to many of her former students throughout her lifetime. She was brought up in a musical household and adored all kinds of music, and especially loved to sing and dance. Always quick to help others, Nancy lived a life of service, and by her example, taught others to do so as well.

Nancy believed in living life to the fullest. She lived by the certainty that no mountain was too high to climb, and fully supported (emotionally and financially!) any and all endeavors of her loved ones to follow their passions. Nancy truly loved everyone, including her “enemies” as God willed, and that love seemed to glow with an inextinguishable light from deep inside her. Absolutely everyone could see it, whether or not they knew her.

Nancy was a member of Unity of Indianapolis for almost 50 years. She loved Unity and all its congregants with all her heart, and dedicated herself to her church in the same way she approached her life – wholeheartedly. Nancy served at Unity in several capacities, including as a member of the Board of Trustees, as Prayer Chaplain, and for many years as a pre-service meditation leader and platform assistant. Most recently, she served as adjunct member of Unity’s Prayer Ministry team. In her Unity home, she found a second family.

Nancy was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Butler University Alumni Association, and the Subway Supremes. Nancy passed away at the age of 99 years and 7 months on September 25, 2020. She is survived by her nieces, Kathi Ridley-Merriweather (Eric), and Evelyn Ridley-Turner (Richard); brother-in-law Thomas H. Ridley; and a host of family and friends, including her two special “adopted” children, Joseph Lee and Maria Lawson. The family wants to particularly extend our appreciation and gratitude to Brigitte and Clarissa Todd, and Krissi Smith, Nancy’s loving caretakers over the past two years. In heaven, Nancy joins her beloved sister, Louise; her niece, Diane; her great-niece, Ridley, and her half-sister, Deltessa.

For as long as she could, Nancy learned or did something new every single day. She answered every question beginning with “Nanni, do you want to…” with a resounding “yes!” She truly was, and is, God’s child. May she rest forever in His arms.

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Yeah, let yourself go, follow that feeling

Maybe something new is what you're needing

Like a real life, let your hair down, feel alive

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

~Darius Rucker