Diane Louise Henry Johnson

In Memory of
Diane Louise Henry Johnson
June 12, 1948 - January 23, 2017
DIANE LOUISE HENRY JOHNSON, 68 of Ocoee, Florida, passed away January 23, 2017 at Florida Hospital in Orlando, Florida.

Diane was born in Detroit, Michigan to Herbert T. and Louise Blalock Henry on June 12th, 1948.
She was a medical miracle from the start because she was born blue and the doctor who delivered her refused to stop trying to revive her. The doctor was amazing and Diane would go on to live for 68 wonderful years. She had two older brothers Pat and Dave who have recently passed away and has only one remaining sibling, her younger sister, Betty Jean Henry Rushing-Fern. Diane had a difficult situation happen to her at 10 years old on September 12th, 1958, she went grocery shopping with her Father and he suddenly fell to the ground and died of a brain aneurysm. Young Diane had to grow up fast that day after losing her father so traumatically. To help her family, she started working at a very young age and learned how to be a survivor. Diane's father was a Mason and as Daughter of a Mason, she always wished she could have had more time with him. Throughout her life, Diane learned how to make the best of any situation and she used to say, "God only gives as much as you can handle" and she lived by that as a testimony.

Graduating in 1966 from Cooley High School, Diane met the love of her life, Andy Johnson (Burgess Andrew Johnson Sr.) They fell in love, got married in York, South Carolina on August 16th, 1968, and then had their daughter Andrea Diane Johnson in 1969 and 2 ½ years later they had their son, Burgess Andrew Johnson, Jr. in 1971. They lived near both sides of their family and always had very strong bonds to family.

The Johnson Family moved to Orlando, Florida at the end of 1972 and became a part of their community but, always found ways to go back to Michigan, North Carolina and Kentucky to visit relatives. Since Diane and Andy were so young, Diane used to say, we are growing up together and we are growing old together.

In her career, Diane enjoyed being a part of her community and was a teacher's aid at Mollie Ray Elementary in Pine Hills while her children attended the school and was involved in the PTA including being President. For most of the 1970's, she was a bookkeeper for several local businesses including Cagle's Chicken which is now Kelly's Foods of Winter Garden where she worked with her boss (Ken Kelly, who passed away last September) and her best friend, Linda Adams Cooper. The Adams Family were neighbors in their Silver Hyland Community as well as the Spada Family and so many more wonderful families which the Johnson's are still friends with to this day.



In the 1980's Diane began to work for WACO Scaffolding as a Credit Manager where she retired in 2015 after 34 years. She formed so many meaningful life-long friendships. Diane touched so many lives in some many odd ways. She was one of those people who could just feel if you were having a bad day and somehow say the most perfect things to pull you out of it. In someone's darkest hours, she could find a way to guide you to the light. Her younger sister used to say, "Her Halo is always shining." Ironically, Diane collected Angels which were close to her heart.

In 2002, Diane and Andy were blessed with their first grandchild, Hannah Elise Johnson (now 14) and five years later another blessing with their second grandchild, Burgess Andrew Johnson III (unknown as Andrew, now 9). Some of her favorite things included having fun and making good memories by doing things which interested her family. Her favorite flower was the Peony. She loved going to church, keeping up with her favorite television shows, playing card and board games. Diane loved to laugh and made she could make light of tough situations; she had a cheerful laugh that will be so dearly missed.

Diane was devoted to her family and friends and enjoyed helping others which gave her so much happiness. She was a Christian woman whose gentle spirit held so much faith in our Lord and Savior.
Even when diagnosed with painful bone cancer, she found ways to reach out and comfort others but, not wanting to burden others with her problems: sheltering us as a protective Mother would do. In the later part of her life, she continued to be a medical miracle by living longer than the doctors expected and it was NOT the cancer that took her sweet soul but instead medication side effects which became the cause to her head injury.

We must remember that we were so blessed to have extended time with such a precious soul. One of her friends wrote: "Without a doubt, Diane's presence in our lives and in this world was an extension of Almighty God's love and light. We will truly miss her kind words, thoughtful warm spirit, her abundant heart and sweet humor. Her needed love or needed discipline made some feel as though she was like a second mother." Diane was a very amazing person being known as Mom, Sweetie, Di Di, Mama Di, Aunt Di Di, Best Friend, Ms. Johnson, and meaning so much in so many different ways to so many different people.
A memorial bench was ordered last year by all the Johnson's in which to honor Diane and the Johnson Family with her saying, "They grew up together… They grew old together" where you can visit her grave at Woodlawn.
Diane Johnson filled our hearts with memories and our lives with love so, that is why we want to memorialize her wonderful life. Let's say, "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings." Diane must have heard that bell, because on January 23rd, 2017, Diane's spirit left us and she is now with the Lord in Heaven where her halo can shine even brighter. This dedication to her is our way of honoring her life with people who meant so much to her. There are long-distance family and friends that will be unable to attend this weekend and she would understand. As the days continue without this precious person in our lives, may you continue to post to Diane's Facebook page or this Dignity Memorial page with your words and testimonials in your own way. Diane loved Facebook and it helped her keep in contact with so many because she became unable to get out and travel.

When you think of Diane Johnson, smile and try not to cry, for today, we may morn but we are blessed to have had such a precious person in our lives. Be comforted that our hearts will be full of memories, with pride we will speak her name and although life goes on without her, it will never be the same. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. (St. Matthew 5:8)
~~~ Diane Johnson filled our hearts with memories and our lives with love. ~~~

Let us pray –
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
They Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever
- Amen

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We are celebrating her life on Saturday, January 28th between 5pm-9pm @ Woodlawn Memorial Gotha Florida. The visitation is a viewing, testimonials and her favorite music with a Spot Light shining in the sky as she wanted to tell everyone that Diane has passed onto Heaven as we accept that her halo is shining even brighter. Diane collected Angel figurines and we will display some of those to share in her love and passion for collecting meaningful things close to the heart.
Also, on Sunday, January 29th, at 2pm we will have a brief grave site burial as long time-family-friend and Pastor Dennis Ickes will be speaking on our behalf as Diane will be finally laid to rest in God's Loving Care.
Location: Woodlawn Memorial Park is located at 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Rd, Gotha, FL 34734 Phone 407-293-1361
God Saw You
God saw you getting tired,
When a cure was not to be.
So He wrapped his arms around you,
and whispered, "Come to me".
You didn't deserve what you went through,
So He gave you rest.
God's garden must be beautiful,
He only takes the best
And when I saw you sleeping,
So peaceful and free from pain
I could not wish you back
To suffer that again.