Doreen "Debbie" Johnson

Doreen D. Johnson affectionately known as “Debbie” age 62, of Nashville, TN passed away peacefully after a courageous 3-year battle with cancer on August 5, 2018 surrounded by loved ones.

Doreen was born March 28, 1956 in San Francisco, California. She was the 4th of 9 children. She was preceded in death by her parents, Nancy and Hershel Mills; two brothers, Hershel (Sonny) Jr. and Michael Mills; a niece, Adrienne Mills and a nephew, Lorenzo Anderson.

Doreen graduated in 1974 from Emerson High School. She went on to be the first family member to graduate from college where she earned her Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University Northwest in 1981. She pledged and became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Nu Eta Chapter in May 1977. Doreen was an Information Technology Supervisor at Dialysis Clinic Inc. in Nashville. She was also an avid sports fan, but her heart belonged to the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears. She also enjoyed reading, music and cooking. Doreen was an active member of Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church where she served as a trustee, Sunday School Teacher, Bible Study teacher and she served on the Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church Community Development Board.

She is survived by her sisters, Doris Taylor(Charles) of Anniston, Alabama, Dr. Sandra Anderson of Columbus, Georgia, and Linda Minor(Ronald) of Salinas, California her sister-cousin, Felecia Mills Jones of Tampa Florida, and bonus sister, Yolanda Windham Thomas; brothers, Alan Mills (Rosalind), Christopher Mills (Deborah), both of Gary Indiana and Gregory Mills of Atlanta, Georgia; cousins, Frank (Beulah) Owens, Daryl Heard, Wendell (Enid) Essex, and Colleen Essex, all of Detroit Michigan, Ola Faye Gilbert of Palestine Texas, Frankie Williams of Gary, Indiana, Andrea Williams of Gary, Indiana, Trina White of Tampa, Florida and her aunt, Callie Mills of Tampa, Florida. She is also survived by 13 nieces and nephews, a host of great nieces and nephews and friends.
Doreen wanted to thank and recognize her boss, Sue Munson, co-workers, Kim Dean and Will Cross, and mentees, Jocelyn Barton, Nestle Strains and Victoria Smith.

The family would like to extend our extreme gratitude to Dr. Michael Staney and his staff at Tennessee Oncology and the nursing staff at St. Thomas Midtown infusion clinic for their caring love and kindness to her throughout her illness. We would also like to extend our extreme gratitude to the entire congregation of Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church, for all of your kind gestures and support of Doreen and her family. Words cannot express our gratitude. She was a woman of integrity and the nucleus of our family. She was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

Family will receive friends Friday, August 10, 2018 from 3:00 pm-6:00 pm at Highland Hills Funeral Home, 2422 Brick Church Pike, Nashville, TN 37207. Visitation Saturday, August 11, 2018 from 11:00 am-11:40 am; Delta Omega Omega Service, 11:40 am-11:55 am; the Celebration of Life service at 12:00 noon, Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church, 1203 9th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208 with Reverend Joseph Tribble, eulogist.