Details of the funeral of Joan Johnson, a member of the family that owns Henley-in-Arden operator Johnsons Coaches, have been announced.
It will be held on Friday 13 January at 1300hrs at Robin Hood Crematorium, Streetsbrook Road, Shirley, B90 3NL and be followed by a wake at Silhillians Sports Club, Warwick Road, Solihull, B93 9LW. Mrs Johnson’s friends and colleagues from within the coach industry have been invited to attend by her sons John and Peter.
Mrs Johnson died on 17 December 2022, with her sons saying in a joint statement: “We are most grateful for all the kind messages of support we have received from so many industry colleagues; they are a great comfort to us all at this sad time. Thank you.”
John and Peter add that their mother wished for her funeral and wake to represent a celebration of her life. Therefore, guests should not feel obliged to wear black.
Family flowers only have been requested, but there will be opportunities on both the day of the funeral and afterwards to make donations in Mrs Johnson’s memory that will go to Children in Need. A JustGiving page has also been established for that purpose.
Mrs Johnson joined the family-owned West Midlands business in the 1950s when she married John and Peter’s late father Roy. She later became one of the country’s first female coach drivers before settling for a long period as a courier on Johnsons’ holiday tours until retiring in 2016.
