Lester Dean Johnson, a trailblazing healthcare leader, beloved family historian, and lifelong Monroe resident, passed away on September 4, 2026, at the age of 74.
A proud graduate of Carroll High School in the Ouachita Parish Public School system, Ms. Johnson began her working career as a secretary at Northeast Louisiana University. She soon transitioned into healthcare and began a remarkable 33-year career at E.A. Conway Hospital (formerly Charity Hospital) in Monroe.
Through dedication and an admirable work ethic, Ms. Johnson rose from an entry-level admissions clerk to Human Resources Manager, becoming the first African American to hold the executive position at the facility. Throughout her tenure, she utilized her role to open doors for others, helping numerous family and community members secure meaningful employment.
Beyond her professional achievements, Ms. Johnson—affectionately known as “Red” to her close family—served as the heart and historian of her family. She was deeply devoted to preserving her family’s lineage, always holding the answers to questions about their shared past. A lifelong member of Bethel Baptist Church, she also enjoyed traveling, playing bingo, and making frequent trips to California to visit her sister and extended family.
Ms. Johnson was preceded in death by her parents; three siblings, James Johnson, Dwight Wilson, and Marcus D. Johnson; and her niece, Chastity Johnson.
She leaves behind a rich legacy through her son, Todd M. Johnson (Jennifer); her grandson and caregiver, Dominique Mitchell; her sisters, Tina Douzart (Eddie Jr.), Connie Johnson, and Iris Wilson; as well as a wide circle of relatives and friends who will remember her contagious smile and joy-filled heart.
Her life was remembered in a service on Saturday, September 19, at Bethel Baptist Church.
