Laurie Joy Medlock Johnson

October 4, 1984 - April 18, 2022

Laurie Joy Johnson passed away on Monday, April 18, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer. Joy was born on October 4, 1984 in Riverdale, Georgia. She graduated with honors from the University of Georgia then began her journey in helping at risk students by teaching in a high need middle school in the Bronx, New York. She earned her master of arts degree in education policy from the University of Pennsylvania then went on to pursue her doctorate degree at the University of Michigan. Joy was highly skilled in all aspects of educational research and constantly strove to identify methods to improve student outcome through better teaching methods. Joy’s loving and caring ways endeared her to all who knew her. She approached life with humor, bravery, passion, grace and compassion. Joy’s family did not realize how many lives she touched until hearing from so many who knew her since her passing. Many of the doctors on her care team at the University of Michigan Medical Center reached out to her family to let them know that she brought much joy to their team through her cancer journey. Joy will be dearly missed but left behind many wonderful memories for us to cherish. Joy is survived by her parents, Ronald and Lisa Johnson, Canton, Georgia; twin sister, Hope Johnson, Atlanta, Georgia; brother Zach Johnson, Woodstock, Georgia; brother and sister-in-law Jeremiah and Anu Johnson, Los Angeles, California; beloved nieces and nephew Nahla, Mila, and Kaleb Johnson, and a score of cherished aunts and uncles. A service to honor her will be held on Monday, April 25, 1:00, at Liberty Hill at the Mill Church in Canton, Georgia. Family greeting time is from 11:00 to 1:00 on Monday. The service will be simulcast on Liberty Hill’s Facebook page for those who cannot attend in person. Please join us as you see fit in honoring her memory. We will always love and cherish her.