Milira Hope Johnson

The “glue” of the “Johnson Eight,” Milira Hope Johnson, 29, passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness at the Englewood Hospital & Medical Center in Englewood, NJ. Born on December 27, 1990, in Johnson City, NY, Milira was the daughter of Norman and Crystal (Jones) Johnson, each of whom survives. She graduated in 2009 from Norwich High School. Milira loved Jehovah and her Kingdom Hall community. She was a beautiful soul who always smiled and never raised her voice. Milira was the front-and-center cheerleader, encouraging everyone she knew that they would succeed in whatever they pursued. She always found the good in everyone. Milira loved to read, listen to music, especially Tupac (though she didn’t care for some of his language), and to watch her favorite TV shows, including Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, All My Children, and Grey’s Anatomy. She was also very fond of the family dog, Lady, and enjoyed using her computer and electronics.

Milira was a very talented loom-knitter. What began as knitting socks and blankets became her passion for knitting hats for the babies in the neonatal intensive care unit at Wilson Hospital in Johnson City. Once a NICU patient herself, Milira thought it fitting to help the infants in a way that once helped her.

Most of all, Milira adored her family and was especially attentive to her many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her siblings, Tshombe, Andrea, Kareem, Nadia, Norman Jr., Christopher, and Melody, and her 25 nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for Milira will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2020, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, 5250 NY State Hwy. 12, Norwich, NY. Friends are invited to call at the Wilson Funeral Home on Friday, March 13, 2020, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.