WILMINGTON — Shirley Barnhill Johnson passed away December 3, 2024, at Davis Health Care in Porter’s Neck. She had been in care for three years due to complications from recurrent strokes that primarily impaired her ability to speak. This was a tremendous disability for a woman who was known for her ability to talk.
She was born March 12, 1939, at James Walker Hospital in Wilmington. She attended New Hanover High School, graduating in 1957. She spent some time in the Civil Air Patrol and for a time attended nursing school but found it difficult to not bring her patient’s troubles home, so she left…
She married Robert R (“Bob”) Johnson and had three children Robert Jr, Matthew, and Ann. Bob purchased Johnnie Mercer’s Pier in 1968, about a year before Ann was born. They spent most of their married life operating the business and raising their children. She also had a love of animals having multiple dogs, cats, multiple birds including a very long-lived cockatoo, a rooster, a ferret, hamsters, tropical fish, and guinea pigs.
She was predeceased by her husband in 2006, her father Robert Lee Barnhill (during her teen years), her mother Elizabeth Barnhill Maness, and her brother Bobby Barnhill. She leaves behind her children: Robert Jr (Jennifer), Matthew (Courtney), and Ann Franklin (Spencer). She also has 6 grandchildren: Robert III, Nicholas, Katherine, Robert Thomas, David Franklin, and Beatrice Franklin.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations for the Cape Fear Parrot Sanctuary in Pink Hill, NC. It’s the current home of Casper, her loud and rambunctious cockatoo. You can connect online, by phone (910-471-2186), or by mail:
Cape Fear Parrot Sanctuary
323 Warren Brown Lane
Pink Hill, NC 28572
The family would like to thank the staff at Davis Heath Care for their fine work caring for Shirley over the past 3 years. We’d also like to thank Dr. Andrew Bishop, cardiologist with Wilmington Health for repairing her aortic valve which tremendously improved her quality of life in her final years. And finally, we’d also like to thank Dr. Jessica Burkett for her caring for Shirley in the many years prior to her severe illness.
