Attorney Lolanda Ruth Johnson

JOHNSON, Atty. Lolanda Ruth - Age 71, passed away Monday, December 30, 2024, at McLaren-Flint. Family hour 10:00 AM Friday, January 10, 2025 at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 424 Kennelworth Ave., with memorial service commencing at 11:00 AM, Pastor Javon Catlett, officiating. Family and friends will assemble at the Church 10:00 AM Friday. Atty. Johnson will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12:00 PM-6:00 PM Thursday. There will be no public viewing at the Memorial Service. Lolanda Ruth Johnson was born at Hurley Hospital on January 30, 1953 to Dolores and Samuel Johnson. She was baptized at Christ the King Catholic Church. Lolanda attended the Flint’s Clark Elementary School and St. Matthew Catholic School. She continued her secondary education at Flint Southwestern High School and graduated in 1971. Attorney Johnson earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University in East Lansing in 1975. She committed to being a lawyer when she was nine years old and pursued her passion for law and justice with unwavering commitment throughout her life. Lolanda continued her education at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, where she received her Juris Doctor in 1982. In 1983, she was licensed to practice law in Michigan and was admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the United States Court of Claims. Her legal career was marked by a series of significant roles and contributions. From 1984 to 1988, Lolanda served as Assistant and then Senior Assistant City Attorney for the City of Flint, where she prosecuted ordinance violations, traffic, and misdemeanor cases, and represented the city in various legal matters. She continued her service to Flint as an attorney in private practice from 1988 to 1994, specializing in insurance defense, corporate, municipal, and education law, and served as Of Counsel to the City of Flint Law Department. In 1993, Lolanda was appointed Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan, handling Worker's Compensation claims. She then served as City Attorney for Highland Park, Michigan, from 1994 to 1995, providing legal counsel to the Mayor and City Council and managing litigation on behalf of the city. Lolanda's career also included a significant tenure at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, where she worked as Assistant Risk Manager/Collections Attorney from 2003 to 2009, developing and coordinating risk management and quality improvement programs. Since 2009, she maintained a private practice in Flint, focusing on civil and criminal litigation. In addition to her legal practice, Lolanda was a dedicated educator. She served as an adjunct professor at Mott Community College from 1991 to 2015, teaching business law and management courses. She also taught in the Paralegal Program at the Detroit College of Business from 1992 to 1993. Lolanda was deeply involved in her community, serving on the Flint Board of Education, the Bishop Airport Authority, and actively participating in community organizations including the Salvation Army, The Links International, Flint Chapter and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She undertook her religious ministry under the tutelage of her beloved pastor, Rev. Dr. Roy Greer at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church. She received her inspiration from the Holy Spirit and was also greatly enlightened by the ministry of Rev. Dr. Emil Thomas, who she also greatly admired. She drew others to Christ as she was a natural evangelist at heart. Lolanda R. Johnson's legacy is one of dedication to the law, education, and community service. She will be remembered for her contributions to the legal profession and her unwavering commitment to justice and public service. Lolanda is survived by her beloved mother, Dolores McGowan of Grand Blanc, MI. sister, Linnette Phillips of West Bloomfield, MI, niece Chelsea Phillips of Silver Spring, MD. and nephew Robert Emery Phillips of Detroit. She leaves to cherish Uncle Ezra (Mildred) Artis and Aunt Rose Thomas all of Flushing, MI. She leaves to cherish several cousins, numerous friends and colleagues, special friends Atty. Karen McDonald Lopez, Paula Burns, Atty. Brenda Williams and the countless individuals whose lives she touched throughout her life of public service.. She loved her niece, nephew and cousins; Ezra Artis, II, Ericka Artis, Ellyn Artis, Alaina Thomas, Ainsley Thomas, and Ashley Thomas. and claimed the children of her best friends including Karina Mercedes Dotson, Alexis Jones among the count, as well as their beloved pets. Londa’s love of animals, especially the dogs of her best friends, revealed the depth and goodness of her heart towards all creatures of God. Attorney Johnson was preceded in death by her father, Samuel Johnson; grandparents, Thelma and Arnold Artis; aunt, Wenona Jackson.

Attorney Lolanda Ruth Johnson

January 30, 1953 - December 30, 2024