Anita Johnson

Mildred Anita Johnson, 99, passed peacefully in her sleep at her home in Montgomery on May 19, 2023. She was preceded in death by her husband of over 63 years, Lynwood. She is survived by her two children, Scott Johnson (Rene') and Winthrop (“Win”) Johnson (Beth); grandchildren,Jennifer JoAnne Wiley (Craig), Lynwood Scott "Scotty" Johnson, III , William Edward Johnson (Elizabeth), Davis Quill Johnson, and Anna Montgomery Johnson. She was grandmother to five great grandchildren, Thomas, Kelsey, Harmony, Piper, and Erin. She is also survived by her niece Pat Quill Grayson and extended family.

Anita was born May 3, 1924. She lived part of her youth in Calumet, which is in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She loved the snow and watching her father, Edward Quill who was an excellent ice skater, put water in their yard to create a skating rink. She reminisced to her children about the snow reaching the roof of her house and her father cutting a doorway through the snow to get to the door of the home. Her family moved to Ansonia, Connecticut where she attended Ansonia High School and was a gymnast and cheerleader. She had one beloved brother, Jack Quill, who predeceased her.

After High School, she studied at a Business School. At some point after that schooling, she decided to spend summer vacation with her friend in Florida where she obtained a position as supervisor of the Boca Raton Airfield telegraph office. In Florida, she met a WWII pilot by the name of Captain Lynwood Johnson. After being courted by him, as well as buzzed by his airplane while she sunbathed on the beach, she was engaged to him. They married on May 15, 1946 in Kingston, Georgia. After separating from the Air Force, Lynwood took several jobs, eventually landing an Account Executive job with Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, and Smith’s Montgomery, AL office, where he worked until retiring in 1975.

Anita was a meticulous housewife and served her husband faithfully. She seemed always busy with home projects for her husband, her children, and herself. However, she also had some engaging hobbies. It was in Montgomery where she raised her two sons, to whom she was devoted, and resided for approximately 70 years. It was also here that she made her reputation as a fine local artist in the local Montgomery art scene, as well as the State of Alabama. Anita was gifted in all types of artwork, from oil painting to sculpture to soap carvings and more.

Anita was an avid antique hunter and deal seeker. Her home was full of furniture and household pieces she had picked up in flea markets and antique stores all over the State of AL. In the 50’s and early 60’s, she also volunteered at the VA Hospital encouraging patients to persevere through their rehabilitation.

Anita was beloved by all who met her. She was very caring, self-sacrificing, gentle, kind, empathetic, and a lady of scrupulous morals. She was a faithful tither to and member of three local Southern Baptist Churches during her time in Montgomery: Normandale Baptist, McGehee Road Baptist, and Heritage Baptist. Anita was a lover of animals, and one of her past times in her last years was to write stories about cats and dogs she had come across during her life. She gave copies of these stories to friends, family, and people whom she met in daily life.

The family will receive friends at a visitation on Tuesday, May 23, from 1:00 P.M. until 2 P.M. at White Chapel Funeral Home, 909 Lincoln Road, Montgomery, Alabama. A Chapel service will be held at 2 P.M. Also, a private graveside service will be held at Greenwood Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the team from Gentiva Hospice who provided experienced comfort care during her last weeks. Also, thanks to the management and staff at Caravita Village, Montgomery, who so loved “Ms Anita” and were accommodating in every way they could to assist with her final weeks.

Memorial gifts may be made to Heritage Baptist Church (1849 Perry Hill Rd, Montgomery, AL, 36106), Montgomery Humane Shelter (1150 John Overton Dr, Montgomery, AL, 36110), the Foundation for Moral Law (One Dexter Avenue, #3, Montgomery, AL, 36104), or the charity of one’s choice.