Jillian Johnson

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, July 27, 2015 at 12:30pm in the Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers for Jillian Johnson, 33. Reverend John Wamsley will conduct the Services. Jillian Johnson, who made a name for herself as one of South Louisiana’s most gifted and beloved creative professionals, and who was at the forefront of the region’s cultural and artistic renaissance, passed away on Thursday, July 23, 2015. She leaves behind a legacy of beautiful artwork and design, brilliant and meaningful entrepreneurship, civic advocacy, and timeless song. For all of those who knew and loved her, she was the model of a life well lived. Jillian was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, with deep family roots in Cajun Country. She lived in Nashville, TN, between 1988 and 2002, when she moved back to attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, from which she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts in Ceramics. Even before graduating college, she was fearlessly independent and business-minded, and her involvement in the Louisiana music scene began when she took over as a manager and booking agent for the Cajun swing outfit, The Red Stick Ramblers. Soon, she was managing other local bands, in addition to designing websites, compact discs, and posters, for a rapidly growing list of grateful clients. She quickly became the most sought after resource for a wide range of people and businesses looking to convey their message to the public in a way that was artistic, beautiful, and meaningful. In the process, she became instrumental in shaping and driving the sensibility and voice of an entire generation of creative individuals in the region. In addition to her celebrated work in music and art and business, she was a prominent civic advocate, and she played seminal roles in developing the neighborhood improvement group, TownFolk, as well as the Acadiana Food Circle. Above all, she was a beloved wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend. She and her husband Jason met in 2009 when he became her neighbor. From that moment, they were inseparable, and they married in 2013. Together, they started a new life and a new business, Red Arrow Workshop. With her beloved brother Bram and business partner Tom Brown, she founded Parish Ink, focusing on items that reflected the region’s cultural pride and identity. She loved her step-daughter Paxton deeply. She also adored her two poodles, Knives and Vega, who became the popular stars of her Instagram posts. Jillian was a beacon of integrity, creativity, diligence, and love to all who knew her. She had a wicked sense of humor mixed with a warm, graceful, and regal presence. She was loved by all, and she will not soon be forgotten. Jillian is survived by her husband, Jason Maloy Brown; her step-daughter, Paxton Azella Myles-Brown; her parents, Jackie and Sally Johnson; her brother, Bram Johnson; her paternal grandmother, Mary Ruby Benoit; and her maternal grandfather, Eldon Lyle Adams. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, William Stanley Johnson, Jr. and her maternal grandmother, Argylee Adele Boone. The family request the visiting hours be observed on Sunday, July 26, 2015 from 10:00am until 6:00pm. Visitation will continue on Monday, July 27, 2015 from 9:00am until time of service. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Lafayette Central Park, Inc., 2901 Johnston Street, Suite 300, Lafayette, LA 70503, Attn: Johnson Memorial or online at http://cfacadiana.org/contribute. Select Lafayette Central Park, Inc.- General Fund and indicate that the gift is in memoriam of Jillian Johnson. Personal condolences may be sent to the Johnson family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Jillian Johnson

March 4, 1982 - July 23, 2015