Irene "Jill" Elizabeth Johnson

Jill was born on May 6, 1937 to Thelma and Lewis Dalton and grew up in Bluefield, Virginia. After graduating as her class valedictorian from Bluefield High School, where her father was the principal and her mother one of her teachers, Jill went on to study aeronautical engineering at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. She left Virginia Tech before graduating to get married, and later finished her degree in mathematics at Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC.

Despite her academic aptitude, Jill’s true passion was motherhood, and she chose to spend most of her life focused on family. She was the devoted mother to three – David, Mary Van, and Matthew. Her children proudly carry her values forward – David in his love of books and keen sense for numbers; Mary Van for her love of cooking and profound advocacy for her children; Matt for his unwavering ability to see and champion the best in all people and his love of family traditions.

When her children were older, Jill worked for many years in the accounting department for Medaphis, a medical billing firm. Upon retirement, she enjoyed continuing her education and building lasting friendships at the Lifelong Learning Institute, where she studied history, opera, and literature, and also took aerobics.

Jill was a faithful member of Manakin Episcopal Church for more than thirty years, and spent many of those years as an active contributor to their Women’s group, hosting countless events for church members, including her daughter’s wedding. Many of Jill’s most valued and lifelong friendships began at Manakin.

Jill was very close with her brother, Dr. John “Jack” Dalton, who predeceased her by only eleven days. She is survived by all her children: David, his wife Ashley, Mary Van, Matt, his wife Amy, and six grandchildren, Eliza, Dalton, Zach, James, Cameron, and Kyle.

Jill's family will best remember her on the beach in a low-down folding chair under a big hat, making drip sand castles with her hands and letting the water run over her feet, or with a book (or three), a single glass of champagne and a small bowl of salt & vinegar potato chips, or relaxing with one of her beloved cats (over the years these included Prissy, Tom, Don Quixote, Doctor Zhivago, and Lily), playing card games and singing John Denver songs. We will still hear her sing her favorite hymns in church, she will still be at every Christmas breakfast, and she will forever live in our hearts.

A memorial service will be held in Jill’s remembrance at Manakin Episcopal Church in Midlothian, VA on March 25th at 1 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Lifelong Learning Institute (https://llichesterfield.org/give).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com for the Johnson family.