Jeanette Janyra Johnson

"Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King, Hallelujah, Hallelujah we're going to see the King"

The Johnson’s Family beloved:

Mrs. Jeanette Johnson, of Clearwater, Florida after 75 BLESSED and WONDERFUL years on this side, made her transition to that promised home beyond the skies, on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.

Although this most precious and dear family will miss her on this physical side, there is no doubt in our mind, She’s at peace.

Final Care and Compassionate Services are being provided with dignity and comfort to the family by the TR Dallas Funeral and Cremation Services

Jeanette “Janyra” Johnson

Jeanette was born on October 20, 1946, in Staten Island, New York, the third of four children born to Azzie and Ambus Johnson. From an early age it was quite clear Jeanette was an artist from her drawings on the walls of the house.  Jeanette always had an inquisitive nature and if you wanted her to do something just tell her no, she couldn’t. In high school Jeanette joined with sisters Beryl and Suzanne Williams to form the group that became “Candy & the Kisses”. This started Jeanette’s passion for traveling as the group traveled to perform in and outside the USA. Their 1965 hit “The 81” can still be heard on the radio to this day and can be found on YouTube and Spotify. Jeanette’s creativity knew no bounds and her passion for fashion and art over took her desire to sing. She received a scholarship to attend The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City, but the restrictions of being told what to do and when was not something Jeanette could long accept. She quit fashion but continued her other passions, painting and traveling. She studied painting and drawing at the Arts Student League, won awards for her paintings, and eventually returned to college, getting her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Fine Arts from Hunter College in New York City. Her studio art professor encouraged Jeanette to “paint bigger” so her canvasses went from 11 X 14 to wall size. Jeanette decided she needed a new name and became “Janyra Jasan” as she continued painting, making jewelry and traveling. Under her new professional name, Janyra Jasan’s work was exhibited and sold in the 1980s by the HarrisBrown Gallery in Boston as well as galleries and locations in New York City. Janyra eventually returned to fashion when she started working for Polo Ralph Lauren, where she remained for over 25 years until 2015. After being laid off in a reduction in force, Janyra decided to retire and in 2017 moved for health reasons to Florida for its sunshine and lack of cold and snowy weather. Here she performed once again, joining the theatre group at Top of the World where she resided.

Unfortunately, health issues piled up and, after a long fought struggle, they finally took their toll. Janyra/Jeanette passed away on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. As Jeanette wrote in 2017 when her lung disease was diagnosed “Just know that I had a good life (Better than most) and to no longer exist won’t be that bad.”  Although small in stature, soft spoken and a gentle soul, Jeanette was unforgettable with her bubbly, carefree personality, sparkling green eyes and a broad welcoming smile. She truly lived life Her Way.

Jeanette was married and divorced with no children. She is survived by her sister, Paula Johnson Didriksen, of Maui, Hawaii, her god-daughter and niece, Michele Sha Kelly of New York City, nephews Evan Didriksen-Johnson of Stamford, CT, Taalib Johnson of Richmond, VA, Rashid Owens-Johnson of Oakland, CA, niece Lori Johnson Payne of Raleigh, NC, brother-in-law, Bradford Didriksen, long-time dear friend, Billie Norris, and a host of cousins, grand nieces and nephews and friends.

As were her wishes, Jeanette will be cremated, her ashes strewn in a place she chose and there will not be a funeral or a memorial service here. But, as she wished, there will be a celebration –music, dancing and champagne- when her ashes are spread over the waters.

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