Sharon Thomas Johnson

December 25, 1949 - March 29, 2022

Sharon Ramona Johnson of Jacksonville, FL went home to be with the Lord on March 29, 2022 after a brief illness. She passed peacefully with her high school sweetheart and devoted husband of 49 years by her side. Sharon was born to Weller and Cornelia Thomas on Christmas Day, 1949, in Mathews, Virginia. She graduated from Mathews High School in 1968 as one of the first students to integrate the public schools in that county. She went on to graduate from Hampton Institute (University) with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting in 1972. Immediately upon graduation she started her career in Boston, MA, and was married shortly after to Jonathan W. Johnson, of Middlesex, Virginia and they soon had their first child, Keita Kalonji, while living in Salem, MA. They soon relocated to Park Forest, IL, in suburban Chicago and later to Rockford, IL where they celebrated the birth of their second son Ashanti Jontu. During subsequent moves throughout the Midwest, Sharon seamlessly mastered the roles of mother, Professional Accountant, business owner, substitute teacher, women's league bowling champion, Sunday school teacher and pre-k volunteer. Eventually settling in Blaine, MN, just north of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, she enjoyed work in the public sector, coordinating state funding for tribal lands with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. After brief relocations to Iowa and Ohio, she and Jonathan eventually returned to the South, living briefly in Ridgeland, MS and eventually settling in Jacksonville, where they resided for nearly 25 years. Alongside her personal achievements, Sharon embodied 1 Corinthians 13:4 - 7 (ESV): "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things..." and 2 Corinthians 9:7 *(ESV): Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.." She poured into her faith, family and friends, was a friend to all, and devoted her time selflessly to her family and community. She despised injustice and cruelty; was fiercely compassionate; and valued equity in all things, but mostly in education. As a teenager in the segregated South, Sharon fought tirelessly for equality in education and instilled in her children the knowledge, respect and understanding that any strides they made, were as much the result of the sacrifices made by all of those who came before them. She was a beacon upon the hill - effortlessly modeling selflessness, humility and compassion; often opening her heart and dinner table to whomever passed through the front door - be it family, friends, or whicher neighborhood gaggle of children her sons managed to find and feed in the moment. Of all of these achievements, she fought most bravely against Type 1 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease. In 2004 she successfully underwent a double organ kidney and liver transplant, to later welcome the addition of two adored daughters - Renea and Alisha - and a total of eight beloved grandchildren - Reis, Khairi, Evan, Caleb, Ethan, Grant, Olivia and Aiden - to her family. She is predeceased by her parents, Cornelia and Weller Thomas, Sr. of Mathews, and lovingly survived by her husband, siblings Sylvia Thomas, Sheila Thomas, Evette and John Harris, SoniaThomas and Weller Jr. (Randy) and Pamela Thomas, nephew Joshua A. Harris, Sr., niece Courtney Harris and great-nephew Joshua Jr., nephew Kala Sykes, niece Khalia Butts and great-niece Khendi Butts. By marriage, she is predeceased by parents James W. Johnson, Sr. and Juanita Tabb of Middlesex, siblings Jeffrey and Judith Johnson and niece Jacqueline (Jacqui) Johnson. She is lovingly survived by Tula Johnson, siblings James Johnson, Jr. and Jacqeline Johnson, nieces Cheryl and Kristina Johnson and great nephews Patrick and Christopher Howard. In addition, she leaves a host of beloved extended family and cherished friends. As we struggle to reconcile her loss on this earthly plane, we know that the heavenly host rejoices in her return and we look to honor her life and celebrate her homegoing on Saturday, May 28th, 2022, at the Antioch Baptist Church in Susan, Matthews County, Virginia at 11am. 110 Antioch Road, Susan, VA 23163. Repasse and Internment to follow at the same location.