Zephaniah Johnson was called home to heaven on February 2, 2022, at the age of 14 at the University of Iowa Stead Family Child Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa.
Zephaniah is survived by her parents, Shawn and Eugina Johnson, Her Sisters, Paxtyn Johnson, Phoebe Johnson, Cora Johnson, Rosalind Johnson, and brothers Jaydin Johnson and Quinn Johnson. Her Grandparents David and Margaret Selmon, John and Victoria Dixon, and Gene and Paula Benally. Zephaniah has many uncles and aunts. cousins, a cat named Sosa, and a dog named Winston. Zephaniah was preceded in death by her uncle Bryan Benally.
Zephaniah was born on Tuesday, April 3, 2007, at Fort Madison Community Hospital to Shawn and Eugina Johnson. She was a ninth grader at Burlington Community School. She was in the marching band where she played the Trumpet. She was a club M Mentor. Zephaniah passed her driving exam and filled out applications for Fareway and Panera. She adopted a cat, she named Sosa on December 7th, 2021.
Zephaniah was a beacon of joy and laughter; she had the gift of Joyfulness. Wherever she went her spirit could light up a room. She never failed to bring a smile to your face. Her personality radiated compassion and the perfect balance of sincerity and humor. Zephy enjoyed hanging out with her friends, Cameron, Carlecia, Tony, Caroline, Anabelle, Audrey, Marley, and her girlfriend Lanee, who she said made her life 10 x better. Zephy’s ultimate best friends for life were her sisters Paxtyn and Phoebe. Her grandmother Margaret was her secret keeper and advice giver. Zephy always liked to be organized and clean which was inherited by her daddy; she loved the smell of teakwood and Downy. She enjoyed her momma's cooking and hated cooked tomatoes. She was not religious but very spiritual. Her favorite color was baby pink, and she liked the St. Louis Cardinals, Iowa, and adopted a fondness for her momma’s team, Notre Dame. She used her imagination to create worlds in Minecraft; she loved her videogames. She was new to skateboarding and loved Vans. She listened to K-pop all her life. Her laugh and jokes were the best in the whole world. Her last gift to the world was the donations of her organs to others.
She will forever and always be missed, deeply by those who knew her.
The funeral service for Zephy will be held Friday, February 11, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Lunning Chapel. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, February 10, 2022, from 5:00 until 7:00 PM at Lunning Chapel.
A memorial has been established.