Obituary for Honorable Lana C Johnson
Lana Charisse Johnson passed away unexpectedly in her Chicago home on her 62nd birthday, Monday, February 20, 2023. She was born on February 20, 196l in St. Louis, Missouri to the late Edward Warren Johnson II and Eleanor Florida (Johnston) Johnson.
Lana was loved and cherished by many, especially her family. She leaves behind her daughter Catherine Ramya Johnson, her older brother Edward Warren Johnson III, her nephew Adam Warren Johnson and niece-in-law Rosalba Vargas, great-nephew Liam Warren Johnson, and beloved dog, Shadow. She is also survived by many cousins, two aunts, Rosetta Greene and Clarice McClure, and the extended Bottom Family, whose reunions she would often attend.
Lana was a bright, curious child from an early age. She was active in many social, educational, and religious activities in her younger years. Lana was a member of Central Baptist Church where she served as a junior usher and also participated in the annual Christmas plays. In her youth, she took piano lessons for several years at the historically black-owned Alleda Ward Wells Piano Studio and also studied ballet. Lana attended Cook Elementary School, where she skipped a grade, until she was accepted into the Wade Gifted School where her scholastic ability, creative energies, and many achievements shone. Lana attended Southwest High School where she participated in many extracurricular activities, including the yearbook staff, the girls’ field hockey team, and musical theater. In addition, she was also the senior high school secretary and earned a National Merit Scholarship which helped her attend college. In her teen years, she was a member of Jack and Jill, Inc. and participated in her cotillion. Lana’s first job was working as a candy striper at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. During the summers, she held many roles at the renowned Saint Louis Zoo.
Lana attended The University of Missouri and continued to thrive. She pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she made many lifelong friends. She was initiated on April 11, 1981 through the citywide Epsilon Psi Chapter. Lana was the Captain of her pledge group, the SS Terriers line. She graduated with a B.A. in 1982 and went on to earn her J.D. from the Mizzou School of Law in 1985.
After becoming licensed to practice law in both Missouri and Illinois, Lana moved to Chicago in 1987. Although Lana lived in Chicago for the rest of her life, she was always proud of her St. Louis roots and ready to share a fun fact about her hometown. She started at the Cook County Public Defender’s Office as an Assistant Public Defender in 1988, eventually rising through the ranks to become one of the first black women in the Homicide Task Force Division. Throughout her career as an attorney, she worked tirelessly to represent her clients and was known for her strong closing arguments.
In 2000, ready to start a new chapter in her life, Lana purchased her first home in Rogers Park and moved in with her adored dog, Brittany. On August 27, 2000, she welcomed Catherine (“Cat”) Ramya Johnson, named after her aunt who passed away the year before. Lana was a devoted and loving single mother, incredibly grateful to her “village” for helping raise her beloved daughter, Catherine.
She was appointed to the bench in May 2012, where she presided as an Associate Judge in the Juvenile Justice Division. Lana was admired for listening to and advocating for the young people that passed through her courtroom. She was passionate about her job and truly cared for her minors.
Lana was known for her infectious energy, positivity, and humor. She loved to connect with people and could talk to anyone and everyone. She knew everything about pop culture and was a music aficionado. Her love for music began from a young age, watching her father listen to his extensive record collection in the family’s basement. Lana loved to have a good time, and in the good old days, you could often find her on the dance floor of Chicago’s hottest clubs. She was a big fan of house music and an early adopter of the culture and genre.
Due to her adventurous spirit and inquisitive mind, Lana loved to travel and visited five continents. Some of her most memorable visits include Alaska, Rio, Nairobi, Dubai, London, and Aruba. Lana’s passion for the arts inspired this same love in her daughter. You could often find Lana grooving at a live concert, attending a play, or exploring a museum exhibit.
Lana will always be remembered for her kind heart and loving soul. She lived life to the fullest! She is dearly missed and will never be forgotten.
Lana Charisse Johnson, Cook County Juvenile Judge, 62, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, February 20, 2023. Lana was proudly born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She worked as a Cook County Public Defender from 1988 - 2012 raising through the ranks to the Homicide Task Force Division. She was appointed to the bench in May 2012 where she presided as an Associate Judge. Lana was loved and cherished by her family, especially her daughter Catherine, many friends, Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters, and countless colleagues. A Memorial Service will be planned in the coming weeks.
Lana was born on February 20, 196l to Edward W. Johnson II and Eleanor F. (Johnston) Johnson. Lana was a bright, curious child from an early age. She was very active in many social, educational, and religious activities in her younger years. Lana was a member of Central Baptist Church where she served as a junior usher and was also a participant in several annual church Christmas plays. Lana took piano lessons for several years at the historic Foundational Black American music school - Alleda Ward Wells Piano Studio.
Lana attended Cook School until being accepted into Wade Gifted School due to her scholastic ability and achievement. Upon graduating, Lana attended Southwest High School where she was very active in such extracurricular activities as a member of the yearbook staff; the girls field hockey team, and was the senior high school secretary.
During the summers, Lana worked in many capacities at the St. Louis Zoo.
Lana was loved and cherished by many, especially her family. She leaves behind her daughter Catherine Ramya Johnson, her older brother Edward Warren Johnson III, her nephew Adam Warren Johnson and niece-in-law Rosalba Vargas, great-nephew Liam Warren Johnson, and beloved dog, Shadow. She is also survived by many cousins, two aunts, Rosetta Greene and Clarice McClure, and the extended Bottom Family, whose reunions she would often attend.
Lana was a bright, curious child from an early age. She was active in many social, educational, and religious activities in her younger years. Lana was a member of Central Baptist Church where she served as a junior usher and also participated in the annual Christmas plays. In her youth, she took piano lessons for several years at the historically black-owned Alleda Ward Wells Piano Studio and also studied ballet. Lana attended Cook Elementary School, where she skipped a grade, until she was accepted into the Wade Gifted School where her scholastic ability, creative energies, and many achievements shone. Lana attended Southwest High School where she participated in many extracurricular activities, including the yearbook staff, the girls’ field hockey team, and musical theater. In addition, she was also the senior high school secretary and earned a National Merit Scholarship which helped her attend college. In her teen years, she was a member of Jack and Jill, Inc. and participated in her cotillion. Lana’s first job was working as a candy striper at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. During the summers, she held many roles at the renowned Saint Louis Zoo.
Lana attended The University of Missouri and continued to thrive. She pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she made many lifelong friends. She was initiated on April 11, 1981 through the citywide Epsilon Psi Chapter. Lana was the Captain of her pledge group, the SS Terriers line. She graduated with a B.A. in 1982 and went on to earn her J.D. from the Mizzou School of Law in 1985.
After becoming licensed to practice law in both Missouri and Illinois, Lana moved to Chicago in 1987. Although Lana lived in Chicago for the rest of her life, she was always proud of her St. Louis roots and ready to share a fun fact about her hometown. She started at the Cook County Public Defender’s Office as an Assistant Public Defender in 1988, eventually rising through the ranks to become one of the first black women in the Homicide Task Force Division. Throughout her career as an attorney, she worked tirelessly to represent her clients and was known for her strong closing arguments.
In 2000, ready to start a new chapter in her life, Lana purchased her first home in Rogers Park and moved in with her adored dog, Brittany. On August 27, 2000, she welcomed Catherine (“Cat”) Ramya Johnson, named after her aunt who passed away the year before. Lana was a devoted and loving single mother, incredibly grateful to her “village” for helping raise her beloved daughter, Catherine.
She was appointed to the bench in May 2012, where she presided as an Associate Judge in the Juvenile Justice Division. Lana was admired for listening to and advocating for the young people that passed through her courtroom. She was passionate about her job and truly cared for her minors.
Lana was known for her infectious energy, positivity, and humor. She loved to connect with people and could talk to anyone and everyone. She knew everything about pop culture and was a music aficionado. Her love for music began from a young age, watching her father listen to his extensive record collection in the family’s basement. Lana loved to have a good time, and in the good old days, you could often find her on the dance floor of Chicago’s hottest clubs. She was a big fan of house music and an early adopter of the culture and genre.
Due to her adventurous spirit and inquisitive mind, Lana loved to travel and visited five continents. Some of her most memorable visits include Alaska, Rio, Nairobi, Dubai, London, and Aruba. Lana’s passion for the arts inspired this same love in her daughter. You could often find Lana grooving at a live concert, attending a play, or exploring a museum exhibit.
Lana will always be remembered for her kind heart and loving soul. She lived life to the fullest! She is dearly missed and will never be forgotten.
Lana Charisse Johnson, Cook County Juvenile Judge, 62, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, February 20, 2023. Lana was proudly born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She worked as a Cook County Public Defender from 1988 - 2012 raising through the ranks to the Homicide Task Force Division. She was appointed to the bench in May 2012 where she presided as an Associate Judge. Lana was loved and cherished by her family, especially her daughter Catherine, many friends, Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters, and countless colleagues. A Memorial Service will be planned in the coming weeks.
Lana was born on February 20, 196l to Edward W. Johnson II and Eleanor F. (Johnston) Johnson. Lana was a bright, curious child from an early age. She was very active in many social, educational, and religious activities in her younger years. Lana was a member of Central Baptist Church where she served as a junior usher and was also a participant in several annual church Christmas plays. Lana took piano lessons for several years at the historic Foundational Black American music school - Alleda Ward Wells Piano Studio.
Lana attended Cook School until being accepted into Wade Gifted School due to her scholastic ability and achievement. Upon graduating, Lana attended Southwest High School where she was very active in such extracurricular activities as a member of the yearbook staff; the girls field hockey team, and was the senior high school secretary.
During the summers, Lana worked in many capacities at the St. Louis Zoo.