Sonja Johnson Creel

In Loving Memory of Sonja Johnson Creel

March 28, 1940 – May 4, 2025

With hearts full of love and gratitude, we celebrate the radiant life of Sonja Henie Tucker Johnson Creel, who joyfully met her Heavenly Father on May 4, 2025. Named after the legendary figure skater Sonja Henie, she carried the same grace, poise, and effortless ability to uplift those around her.

While the original Sonja glided across the ice with captivating spins, dazzling footwork, and breathtaking elegance, our Sonja performed her own interpretation on land. With every kind word, warm embrace, and selfless act, she moved through life with the same effortless beauty, leaving a trail of light and love wherever she went.

Born to Lacy David Tucker and Lennie Scott Tucker, she was predeceased by her parents and siblings: Branford William Tucker, Helen (Earl) Graves of Chesapeake Virginia, Robert Braxton (Sara) Tucker of Dillon, SC. Sonja had a deep appreciation for life’s simple joys—celebrations with family and friends, blooming flowers, the delicate dance of butterflies and hummingbirds outside her window. An excellent cook, she also enjoyed creating beautiful items through knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, and quilting. Just as a skater crafts intricate routines, she wove her life with purpose, each stitch, each gesture was a reflection of her love and care.

Her greatest joy was her family. A devoted wife to Thomas William Johnson of Steubenville, Ohio and then Marion Lee Creel for the last 37 years; she was also a loving and nurturing mother to Linda Johnson (David) Bailey of Florence; Thomas William (Kay) Johnson, Jr. (deceased) of Florence; JoVanna Johnson King (Jim) of Anderson; and step-son Kevin Creel of Florence.  She adored her children, seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, ensuring they always felt cherished, supported, and encouraged. Her laughter was a melody, her wisdom a guiding light, and her love a constant embrace.

Professionally, Sonja was a talented servant leader in management at Mohawk Industries, where she spent a career lifting others up, encouraging them with kind words, heartfelt compliments, and unwavering support. She believed true leadership was gently walking beside colleagues to facilitate and celebrate their successes.

The family offers our most sincere gratitude to the nurses, techs, physicians and Chaplain at McLeod Hospice House of Florence, who provided Sonja with exceptional care and compassion in her final days. Your kindness and dedication was a comfort to her, and to all who loved her.

In keeping with her wishes, there will be a private graveside service. Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice. She respectfully encourages you to celebrate her life by offering joy and sunshine to someone close to you or to someone who needs a helping hand. Please make their day with a gift of your time, kind words, visits, meals, and/or a bouquet of flowers to let them know how very special they are. Her ethos was to “Make a difference in the lives of others.” In these simple, heartfelt gestures, her light and spirit will never extinguish.

Sonja’s grace, kindness, and engaging personality of warmth will remain in our hearts forever. She lived her life as a performance of love, a masterpiece of generosity, and in every act of kindness we extend to others, her dance will continue.

Mrs.Creel is entrusted to Kelvin F. Lewis, the funeral director, and the Lewis Crematory & Funeral Home staff of Myrtle Beach, SC. (843) 294-0011   

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