Sandra “Sandy” Walker Johnson, 73, of Richmond, Indiana passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, after a brief illness with her daughters by her side. One of eleven children, Sandy was born May 30, 1949, in Manchester, Ky, to Keen “Jr” Walker and Beatrice “Bea” Cotton Walker.
At a young age, the family moved to Richmond, IN. There, Sandy attended Richmond High School after which she started her family and, in 1980, married William Johnson. She helped provide for her family by working in area factories but the couple later found their way back to Manchester where she was employed as a Home Health Aide caring for the elderly. She was often praised for being very loving and attentive to her patients. With each passing year though, Sandy began to miss her family in Indiana and decided that it was time to go home. In 2015, Sandy and her family moved back to Richmond where she would live out the rest of her life enjoying her children, grandchildren, family and friends.
When Sandy wasn’t working or taking care of her home, she enjoyed working puzzles, crafting and going to yard sales. She was also an experienced seamstress. She enjoyed being outdoors and loved taking care of her flowers and plants. She also enjoyed music, especially the blues. She was known to regularly host family and friends and it wasn’t uncommon for her to have people sleeping everywhere throughout her house. She was an amazing cook and if you were there, she was going to make sure she fed you. Everyone had a favorite but her pork chops, soup beans, pasta salad and cakes were probably her most requested and all served with love. She made everyone feel welcomed. Whether you knew her as Sandy, Granny or, as Bud Fullwood lovingly called her, ‘Red’, she was a beautiful soul who will be greatly missed.
Sandy was preceded in death by her parents, Jr and Bea Walker; her brother, Leon Walker and sisters, Kathleen and Peggy Ann Walker; her sister-in-law, Vivian ‘Cookie’ Walker; her brother-in-laws, Harold Thompson and Douglas Johnson; and her beloved son, Jason Johnson.
She leaves to cherish her memory her husband of 42 years, William Ed Johnson of Richmond, IN; her children, Michelle “Nay” Bragg and William “Bubby” Walker also of Richmond; and Liz Grigsby of London, Ky. She also leaves her sisters, Brenda Walker, Phyllis Reed, Suzie Walker and Jessie Walker all of Cincinnati, Ohio and Sally Walker of Dayton, OH; her brothers, Roy Walker and Marvin Walker both of Richmond; brother-in-law Larry Thompson, Cincinnati,OH; sisters-in-law Billie Bradford, Elsmere, KY; Brenda Henson, Cincinnati, OH and Cookie Henson of Manchester, KY; her grandchildren, Delray, Byron, Damon, Spichelle, Krystal, Kelly, Iyisha, Sierra, Biggie, Keylin, Peyton, Jayci, Mari, Javeontae, Javeonna and Darius; her great grandchildren, Rayonna, Elijah, Melvin, Ty, Jeray, Rayvi, Bryleigh, Bryce, Ace, Brayah, Blayze, Kamryn and Zuri; special friends, Roma, Connie and Lyndsey; and a host of very special nieces and nephews.
I hope you are greeted at heaven’s gates with a pack of cigarettes, a glass of iced coffee and a piece of fried chicken. Get your rest, you deserve it. We love you, Granny.