Willa Beatrice (Holly) Johnson

Willa B. Johnson was born on April 24,1940 in Banks, Mississippi to William Holly and Selma Louise Isabell. She was the eldest of four siblings.  Willa departed from this life early Sunday morning, July 20, 2025.

During her early years, the family moved from Mississippi to Memphis Tennessee when she was four years old. Willa was adopted and raised by her Aunt Matsie Elizabeth Wilson. Matsie was her second mom, and she loved her dearly.  She attended Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis Tennessee. Shortly thereafter, she became a wife and Mother. Willa moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana when she became an adult and extended her family. Willa decided to continue her education in 1987.  Willa explored job opportunities before finding the job fitting her skills at Fort Wayne State Developmental Center in 1991.  She loved her job and continued to work there until she retired in 2005.

During retirement, Willa loved cooking southern soul food meals, watching her favorite game shows, doing yard work, gardening, dancing, shopping, playing card games, solving word search puzzles, attending all church events, retreats, reading her bible and spending time with her family, friends, grandchildren and growing her plants.

Willa was very passionate about helping anyone in need. So, she went back to work part time at Lutheran Life Villages where she was a teacher's aide working with small children and became a private caregiver for a close family friend and the elderly in their home. In 2009 she finally retired for good and resumed her relaxing lifestyle. She continued doing all the things that she loved. 

Willa enjoyed her Pepsi-Cola’s and peppermints. Her favorite TV shows included: The Wheel of Fortune and Family Feud with host “Steve Harvey" (her favorite).  She enjoyed laughter, sharing words of wisdom to family and friends and dancing to Michael Jackson songs. A few of her many talents includes she was an excellent speller and won several Spelling Bee contests. Willa was a great poet and wonderful at spoken words. She was invited to many events to display her talent on stage as well telling creative stories.

Willa was a faithful, loyal and devoted servant of God. Willa was a member at East Chestnut Church of Christ where she worshipped for 37 years before she was diagnosed with Dementia and could no longer attend church services. Even though she could no longer remember much, she never forgot who God was! She Loved the Lord with all her heart and she displayed that daily. She will truly be missed by all of her family and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Holly and Selma Louise Isabell, Aunt Matsie E. Wilson, Daughter, Tanya Norman, Son Donald Yates, and Grandson Dominick Yates

She leaves to cherish her memory, brother, Leroy Powell, Jessie Powell; sister Irene Powell; son Abner "Mickey" Holly; daughters Zandra "Angel" Worlds, Tara (Tyrese) Brown, Shira Johnson, a special daughter Katreena Caldwell; grandchildren, Nakia Powers, Corey Yates, Quinton Mayo, Passion (Quantrell) Turner, Vanity (Jackson) Parrish, Diara Hicks, Dazanay Hicks, Alanna Brown, Kylan Johnson, Kaiden Robinson;  ten great-grandchildren, three great-great- grandchildren, a special cousin Rose Jackson and LaVetra Early. Along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends

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