Anita Marquis Johnson

Anita Johnson

December 22, 1962 – February 6, 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Anita Marquis Johnson, Born

on December 22, 1962, in Norfolk, VA, to Claxton Johnson, Sr., and Barbara Ann

Johnson, Anita's journey was one of creativity, inspiration, and deep familial love.

Around the age of four, Anita and her family relocated to Oak Harbor, WA, where she

spent her formative years. She graduated from high school in 1980 and pursued her

passion for the arts at the University of Washington, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts

degree in Graphic Design. During her time there, she had the privilege of studying

under the tutelage of renowned artist Jacob Lawrence, whose mentorship greatly

influenced her artistic vision.

Anita made her home in Seattle for many years, building a life enriched by art, family,

faith, and her unwavering desire to inspire others. In 2013, she moved to Grand

Rapids, MI, to be closer to her cherished nieces and her sister Erica. Her love for

family extended beyond immediate relatives, as she was an avid genealogist who

meticulously researched and preserved family history, recording hundreds of hours of

stories for future generations.

Her talent and vision paved the way for a successful career as a UX designer, where

she played a key role in launching MSNBC and the first iPhone at AT&T. Blending her

artistic sensibilities with technology, she crafted meaningful and impactful user

experiences.

Her passion for design, positivity, and creativity culminated in her company, 2inspire,

through which she shared her inspirational artwork in the form of books, calendars,

and art pieces. She believed in the power of words and visuals to uplift and

encourage, leaving behind a legacy of positivity.

In recent years, she dedicated herself to empowering others, helping them share their

gifts with the world through the power of technology. Passionate about digital

literacy, she was committed to ensuring everyone had the knowledge and tools to

navigate the digital world. She steadfastly worked to get people online so they could

share their dreams, visions, and written works with the world. She taught computer

skills to seniors at the local community center, helped individuals build websites, and

supported aspiring authors in self-publishing their books. Her final project was

dedicated to helping writers bring their stories to life, ensuring their voices could be

heard and their legacies preserved.

Anita was preceded in death by her father, Claxton Johnson, Sr. She is survived by her

devoted mother, Barbara Johnson; her brothers, Claxton Johnson Jr. (Anita B.) and

Bryan Johnson (Robyn); her sisters, Darice Johnson and Erica Millbrooks (Ronald);

nephew Claxton Johnson III; nieces Raqhelle Millbrooks, Layla Millbrooks, Anala

Millbrooks, Belinda Johnson and her beloved dogs, Rakho and Khodei.

In honor of her giving spirit, Anita requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be

made to the Randolph County Training School Scholarship Fund

(www.rctsfoundation.org/Donations.aspx) or The Sewing Academy (https://bit.ly/

SewingAcademy).

A memorial service to celebrate Anita's life will be held at First Lynnhaven Baptist

Church, Virginia Beach, VA, on March 1, 2025 from 2pm-4pm EST. She will be deeply

missed, but her light will continue to shine in the lives of those she touched.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Anita Marquis Johnson, please visit our floral store.