Shirley Johnson, former lawmaker, dead at 83
She served as a state senator for 13th District, including Royal Oak
Shirley Johnson, a longtime Republican lawmaker, died Thursday at the age of 83. She was born Dec. 14, 1937.
Johnson served as the state senator for the 13th District, which includes Royal Oak, from 1999 to 2006 and also served in the House of Representatives from 1981-1998.
She lived in
Royal Oak for years and more recently resided in Troy.
“Shirley Johnson was always working hard. She led the way to enhance the quality of mental health services and funding in Michigan. Shirley was also the sponsor of special legislation that helped lower trash hauling rates for everyone in 13 cities in southeast Oakland County who were trapped in an expensive, perpetually renewing, no bid trash hauling contract, saving tens of millions of dollars for everyone. We will miss her work ethic and dedication to all of us,” said Charles Semchena, a fellow Republican who served on the Royal Oak city commission at the same time Johnson was a state representative in Lansing.
She was also an active civic leader, having served as chair of the Oakland County Community Development Advisory Council, a member and past president of the Royal Oak Republican Women’s Club. She also received numerous awards and accolades throughout her political career, including Legislator of the Year of awards from the Michigan Credit Union League and United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan.
She is survived by her sons, Cliff Jr. and Garret, and was predeceased by her husband, Cliff.
Service arrangements were not yet available at press time.