Georgia A. Johnson, Md (Lansing)

Georgia Anna Lewis Johnson, MD passed away Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at The Willows at East Lansing, in East Lansing, Michigan at the age 93 years. She born in Chicago, Illinois, February 1, 1930, the daughter of Robert Lawrence Lewis and Sarah Celia Flether Lewis. She grew up in Bangor, Michigan and graduated from South Haven High School. She attended Western Michigan University and attended the University of Michigan Medical School, earning her Medical Doctor degree in 1955. Dr, Johnson completed her internship at Evanston Hospital and residency at Detroit Receiving Hospital. She worked as a staff internal medicine physician at the Ypsilanti State Psychiatric Hospital and the Ingham County Public Health Department. In 1969, she joined the faculty at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and worked at MSU Olin Student Health Center. She served on various committees and wrote articles on health for minority patients. Dr. Johnson published four books including Black Medical Graduates of the University of Michigan.

She married John Mabry Johnson in 1957 and together they raised 3 daughters in Lansing, Michigan.

After her retirement, she pursued athletic endeavors, including masters track and field, weightlifting, competitive body building and USA power lifting. She travelled all over to participate in the Senior Olympics, later renamed as the USA Senior Games. She took piano lessons from Sue Thomas. She was a member of the Lansing Young at Heart Singers. She was a docent at the MSU Museum. She was an avid painter and she collected rare books and artwork, including African art.

She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Delta Tau Omega Chapter. Dr. Johnson enjoyed gardening, travel, attending reunions at the University of Michigan and attending Camp Michigania at Walloon Lake. She enjoyed meeting friends at concerts, sporting events, festivals, and at the Original Ladies’ Slumber Party. She was a distinguished alumna at Western Michigan University. She was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in 2005. She was awarded Emeritus status from the University of Michigan Medical School. She received many other awards and recognition, too many to list here.

She is survived by her daughters, Barbara Ann Johnson, MD of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, Mary Margaret Johnson, MD of Marshall, Michigan and Ruth Johnson of Warren, Michigan; grandson Patrick Mabry Ryan (Dr. Breonna Slocum) of Ann Arbor, Michigan; granddaughter, Sarah Marie Ryan of California; great-granddaughter, Riko Ryan; brothers, John Lewis (Dr. Louis Hemmerich) of Parkland, Florida, Fletcher (Jean) Lewis of Grand Prairie Texas, and Brian Lewis; sister, Dorothy Miller of Old Town, Maine; cousins, extended family and friends.

Preceding her in death is her husband, John Mabry Johnson; parents Robert Lewis and Sarah Scoggins; brothers Joe Lewis and Clifton Lewis, and sisters, Joan Brown and Paullyn Parks.