Suzanne (Kelly) Johnson

Suzanne Kelly Johnson, age 78, of Sanford, NC, passed away Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at Dunmore Senior Living in Siler City with her son by her side.

She was born in Lee County, NC on August 17, 1947 to the late Thomas Britton Kelly and Helen Madeline McCleney Kelly.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband William Stanley Johnson and daughter Kimberly Shannon Johnson Sitton.  Suzanne is survived by her son Michael Johnson and wife Susie; sister Barbara Cotten and husband Mike; grandchildren Britney Johnson Koon and husband Evan, Morgan Thomas, Matthew Johnson and fiancé Caroline Knowles, Chase Sitton and fiancé Mackenzie Allen and great-grandchildren Mahalie Hill, Brylee Mosley and Evelyn Nicole Koon.

Suzanne graduated from Sanford Central High School and attended Sandhills Community College where she earned her Register Nurse license.  She began her nursing career at the old Lee County Hospital and retired, after 35 years of nursing, from the NC Department of Corrections.  She was an avid NASCAR fan (especially Harry Gant) and attended numerous races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  She loved racing so much, she wrote a racing column for the Sanford Herald.  Suzanne volunteered her time and talents in Honduras and Richard Petty’s Victory Junction Gang Camp.

Suzanne also enjoyed watching WWE Wrestling with her grandchildren and would order pizza and make a night out of it.  She loved her long-time housemate “Bo”, her black cat and would end every text with a heart emoji and black cat.

The family wants to thank her life-long nursing school friend Susan Bouchard and other friends Jeanne Hunter, Diane Edwards and Donna & John McNeil who stayed in touch with her and visited until the very end.

A graveside service will be held Friday, January 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Buffalo Cemetery.  The family will receive friends following the graveside service.

The family requests no flowers but donate, in her memory, to Gentiva Hospice, 1836 Doctors Drive, Sanford, NC 27330.

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