Elizabeth Autrey Johnson
                  Nov. 10, 1930 - Dec. 22, 2015

OKINAWA, Japan -  Elizabeth Johnson, 85, died December 22, 2015, on Okinawa, Japan.  Born in Repton, Ala. in Conecuh County and raised in Montgomery, Ala., Elizabeth was the daughter of the late Homer and Sarah Lee Autrey.  She is preceded in death by her husband of more than 50 years, Robert H. Johnson, a retired Air Force technical sergeant.  They met while Robert was stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base and they were married in Montgomery.

As a military wife, Elizabeth traveled extensively with Robert living in places such as England, Alaska, Texas and their final duty station in 1963, Okinawa, Japan.
 
On Okinawa, Elizabeth first worked as a manager at a base beauty salon, but after a few years, opened "Elizabeth's Beauty Salon," which at the time was the only salon on Okinawa owned and operated by an African-American woman. Elizabeth taught Okinawans how to do black hair, and for many years from the mid-1960s through the 1970s, she had a bustling business.   Her clients mostly were black women station  on the island, who through word of mouth, sought her out for quality black hair care that wasn't always readily available on the island.  

Over the years, Elizabeth and Robert came to love the island, the Okinawan people and their many retired military friends.  They decided to retire there in 1973 after Robert completed 26 years of military service.

Elizabeth is survived by six children, Elizabeth Cheryl Ayana Johnson, Detroit, Mich.; Marcus (Sueko) Johnson, Okinawa, Japan; Robert (Crisell) Johnson, Makita City, Phillipines; Emiliano (Lynn) Johnson, Phoenix, Az; Gayla Moore, Augusta, Ga.; and Dr. Juan (Michele) Johnson, Ann Arbor, Mich.; two sisters, Ceola Perry, Detroit, Mich.; and Genette Thompson, Montgomery, Ala.; seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Services will be at All Souls Anglican Episcopal Church on Okinawa, Japan, where the Johnsons were longtime members.