She was born Matilda Iyesatu Koroma in Port Loko in the Northern part of Sierra Leone on July 11, 1928 to Madam Olaymatu Sheriff and Mr Sillah Koroma. She had many siblings including Alpha and Ejatu, Morlai, John, Unpha, Joseph, Prince, Alimamy, Karbo, Memuna, Lucy, Mabinty, Mary, Christiana, Theresa, Baby K, etc.
She was married to Samuel Evelyn Valicius Johnson (Okoro) and was blessed with six children - Foday, Isatu, Alan, Omo, Lyndon & Capri. Her grandchildren include Wilsa, Wilreen, Wilbri, Wilfred, Mohammed, Jeneh, Lyndon Jr, Hamid, Jomed, Jamillah, Denise, Valerie & Dennis.