Family loses mother, father to Covid, Sheriff’s Department loses treasured member

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Detention Officer Lisa Johnson of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department.
Detention Officer Lisa Johnson of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 16 lost one of its own to Covid. Her passing was within three days of the death of her husband, also from Covid.

Lisa and Leroy Johnson are survived by a 15-year-old son and an adult daughter.

Sheriff Barry Babb in a Sept. 21 letter said, “It is with a heavy heart that we inform our community that we have lost part of our family with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. Detention Officer Lisa Anne Johnson passed away on Sept. 16. Lisa began service in our Jail Division on Dec. 16, 2019. She was a veteran with a sweet spirit that was full of knowledge, experience and an example to our younger officers.”

Johnson was previously employed with the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office.

Babb noted that Johnson’s family asked for privacy to allow them to process their loss.

That loss included Lisa’s husband, Leroy, who also passed away due to Covid, within three days of his wife, according to the family’s GoFundMe page.

“Lisa is a great example of someone who serves behind the scenes in our jail and is a hero in a position most do not think about when one thinks of a first responder,” said Babb. “I can tell you without a doubt, our community is a safer place because of a hero like Lisa. Her family, friends and her sheriff’s office family will remember how she lived and her commitment to family and her community.”

Recalling one of Johnson’s contributions to his office, Babb said in early 2020, Johnson made him a custom face mask “that was so impressive, I asked if she would make all our employees a mask. She jumped at the chance, always giving in service to her agency and community.”

“Lisa took care of us and it is our duty to take care of her family. We are working alongside the family to help them transition with issues like Lisa’s employee benefits, honoring her memory at a future service and any other needs we can meet for them,” said Babb.

Those wanting to contribute to the GoFundMe account, established to cover the cost of funeral expenses, can visit by clicking here.

The account goal is $15,000, with more than $9,200 raised as of midday, Sept. 22.

Here is Sheriff Babb’s statement:

It is with a heavy heart that we inform our community that we have lost part of our family with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. Detention Officer Lisa Anne Johnson passed away on Thursday, September 16, 2021.

The custom face covering made by Lisa Johnson for the Sheriff's Department.
The custom face covering made by Lisa Johnson for the Sheriff’s Department.

Lisa began service in our Jail Division December 16, 2019. Lisa was previously employed with the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office. She was a veteran with a sweet spirit that was full of knowledge, experience and an example to our younger officers. Early in 2020, she made me a custom face mask that was so impressive, I asked if she would make all our employees a mask. She jumped at the chance, always giving in service to her agency and community.

I have been in contact with Lisa’s family, who has asked us to relay to the media to give the family privacy during this time to allow them to process their loss. 

Lisa’s family is our priority, hence the reason we have not issued a press release until today. Lisa took care of us and it is our duty to take care of her family. We are working alongside the family to help them transition with issues like Lisa’s employee benefits, honoring her memory at a future service and any other needs we can meet for them.

Lisa is a great example of someone who serves behind the scenes in our jail and is a hero in a position most do not think about when one thinks of a First Responder. I can tell you without a doubt, our community is a safer place because of a hero like Lisa. Her family, friends and her Sheriff’s Office family will remember how she lived and her commitment to family and her community.

Respectfully,

Sheriff Barry H. Babb

2 COMMENTS

  1. Condolences. The number one risk for the China Virus is a high BMI, diabetes and asthma. Someone with those conditions should probably really quarantine and possibly get the vaccine. If anything, this virus will drive humanity, especially Americans, toward better independent healthcare. Fast food is poisonous..