MSGT Lanette Johnson, USAF (Ret.)

MSGT Lanette Johnson, USAF (Ret.), age 64, of Warner Robins, Georgia, passed away peacefully and surrounded by love on April 19, 2025. Visitation for friends and family will begin at 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm Friday, April 25, 2025 at Heritage Memorial Funeral Home. A funeral service to honor her life will be Saturday, April 26, 2025, 10:00 am, at Fellowship Bible Baptist Church. Lanette will be laid to rest at Georgia National Cemetery -Canton, GA where she will receive full military honors, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM. 

Our beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and friend’s story began on April 9, 1961 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Lanette was the oldest of five children born to Mary Thelma Washington. Starting from humble beginnings, Lanette's greatest influence came from her grandmother, Willie Mae Moore. Lanette was raised in a Christian home and was baptized at an early age. However she rededicated her life to Christ in 1995 and was baptized again in the Pacific Ocean while stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

Lanette’s passion for travel and exploration was fueled by her impressive federal career.  Her legacy is one dedicated to financial literacy and service resulting from 37 years of federal service. From her initial enlistment as a budget clerk in the United States Air Force (USAF)  until her health began to decline, Lanette spent her life ensuring her fellow Airmen, family, and friends knew the importance of giving back to others and being financially set for the unpredictability of life’s ever changing nature. Lanette retired from active duty in 2001, after serving nearly 22 years in the USAF.  Following her military service, she continued to contribute to her community by working at Robins Air Force Base in civil service, earning her second retirement in 2018. 

Lanette earned a Master’s Degree in accounting, demonstrating her commitment to education and professional development. Not one to allow the dust to settle under her feet, Lanette continued on her lifelong journey of serving others by working as a volunteer in various ministries with the “baddest church in middle Georgia”, Fellowship Bible Baptist Church in Warner Robins, Georgia.   

Her dedication, passion, quick wit, and comical personality was cloned in the form of her only child, Courtney and sprinkled on her son in law, Damien, and her granddaughters, Lauren and Katelyn.  Affectionately known as Grandma Boo, Lanette will be remembered as a kind soul with a keen sense of style and grace who deeply impacted those around her.  Lanette’s motto for life was “never look like what you are going through”. Her warm spirit left a lasting impression on everyone who was blessed to encounter her presence. She is preceded in death by her grandmother, Willie Mae Moore; mother, Mary Thelma Payne; sister, Annette Washington; and nephew, Ryan Washington.

She leaves behind a loving family, including her cherished daughter, Courtney Baylor (Damien) of Madison, Mississippi; two beloved granddaughters, her Boo Boos, Lauren and Katelyn Baylor as of Madison, Mississippi; three brothers, Rodney Washington (Rochelle) of Marietta, Oklahoma, Gary Washington (Cassandra) of Shreveport, Louisiana, and Greg Washington (Marshall) of Shreveport, Louisiana; one nephew, Lamar Washington of Shreveport, Louisiana; her mentor and close confidant Michael Holmes (Linda) of Warner Robins, Georgia and a host of extended family and friends.

She will be dearly missed and forever remembered for her kindness and unwavering fortitude.