Katelyn LaTesha Johnson

With great sorrow we announce our beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend, Katelyn LaTesha Johnson left this world unexpectedly, on Monday, December 28, 2020 and is now resting in the arms of Jesus. Born in Abingdon, Virginia on September 20, 1997 to Dwayne and Kim Cole Johnson, she grew up in the Richlands, Wardell areas. Katelyn was a 2015 graduate of Richlands Tabernacle Christian Academy and a graduate of Southwest Virginia Community College. Her twenty-three years here on earth were filled with love, laughter and joy. Katelyn was a quiet but fierce person, she was like a panther, a symbol of power, beauty, and grace, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and family and was one of the most selfless souls you would ever meet. The relationship she had with her brother Bryson, was like no other. Katelyn loved him beyond words and always had his back. Her passion for serving God was evidenced in her daily walk with God and she was a devoted member of the Richlands Tabernacle Church. If you knew Katelyn, you knew that she absolutely loved to hunt. She has enjoyed going North on bear hunts and was proud of her hunting achievements. She was an assistant manager at The Lunch Box Café and Kim’s Floral where she enjoyed cooking, cake making and decorating. Katelyn loved taking long relaxing drives and cruising in her car. She was a proud member of Team National and had set goals to reach a higher crown of achievement in her area. Katelyn touched the lives of so many, if you were blessed to have ever met her, then you will never forget her, if you had not truly known her, you have deeply missed out on a great blessing, she leaves us smiling through our tears, she was joy personified. “During my sickness, I ached for that imaginary place, the one in which I could breathe and have no pain. Now I sit here with God, with nature, beauty and astounding light; and now I have no pain and I feel like I can finally breathe!” She left behind her pain, but she also left us all behind and we will never be the same again. What a glorious reunion was held in heaven on Monday as she was greeted by her little sister, Kendra Jadyn LaCole and her beloved grandfather, Stuart Cole. Carrying on her loving spirit are her parents, Dwayne and Kim Cole Johnson of Cedar Bluff, Virginia Her brother, whom she dearly loved, Bryson and Faith Hale Johnson of Cedar Bluff, Virginia Maternal Grandmother, Geraldine Cole of Cedar Bluff, Virginia She dearly loved her Aunts and Uncles, Karen and Rodney Brown of Cedar Bluff; Rebecca and Jason Schuler of Cedar Bluff; Darrell and Donna Cole of Tazewell; and Julie and Richard Short of Richlands, all of Virginia. Paternal grandparents Carlis and Freda Johnson of Jewell Ridge, Virginia and many cousins, friends and family also survive her. In memory of Katelyn the family request that instead of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made to “The Katelyn Johnson Memorial Fund” to help establish a bench in her memory. Contributions may be mailed to P.O. box 1522 Cedar Bluff, VA 24609. Thank you. Katelyn’s life will be honored with a service on Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 1:00 pm at the Richlands Tabernacle Church with the Reverend’s James Vance, David Eldridge, Michael Switzer and Phillip Horton officiating. Interment will follow at the Greenhills Memory Gardens in Claypool Hill, Virginia. Those honored to serve as pallbearers will be Brandon Brown, Brennan Brown, Colton Schuler, Weston Schuler, Izaak Cole, Brian McGraw, Terry Estep, and James Vance. The family will begin receiving friends at 6:00 pm on Wednesday evening at the Richlands Tabernacle Church. Hurst Scott Funeral Home of Richlands, Virginia is handling arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com

Katelyn LaTesha Johnson

September 20, 1997 - December 28, 2020