Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend was called home on Wednesday, November 16, 2022. She passed away at her home with her husband and daughter by her beside with the grace, strength, and presence, as she lived her life.

Marilyn Ernestine (Johnson) Sills was the daughter of James H. Johnson, Sr. and Julia Gantt Phillips born on December 1, 1942 at Freedmans Hospital in Washington, DC. Marilyn was later raised by James H. Johnson and Arline Johnson in Annapolis, Maryland with her younger siblings Dr. James Johnson, Clifton Johnson and Wanda Wood.

She was educated in Anne Arundel County Public Schools and graduated in 1960 from Wiley H. Bates High School in Annapolis, Maryland and was a member of the Senior Ladies Chorus and took a cooking class, where she began to craft her skills. She attended University Maryland Eastern Shore after graduation. In her later years, she also became an avid softball player and bowler, even while sporting long nails, which was unheard of.

She was employed as a Payroll Coordinator for various companies over her career with her last employer, Hampton Roads Regional Jail, where she worked and later retired on disability on February 10, 2000, after suffering a stroke.

Marilyn was a loving a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Family meant everything to her and she made sure holidays and birthdays were always special, surrounded by plenty of love and affection. Her warmth was not only shown in her actions but also in the way she hugged you, to let you know you were loved. She was a petite woman in stature but her presence filled any room that you would think she was a giant. The Christmas season was her favorite, where she would show off her talents in cooking, baking and decorating. Every detail was tastefully executed with her personal flair that you knew was a Marilyn original masterpiece.

She was proceeded in death by James H. Johnson, Sr., Arline Johnson, Julia Gantt Phillips, David Smith, Charles Phillips, Richard Phillips and Wand Wood.

Marilyn leaves behind in cherished memory her devoted husband of 29 years William M. Sills, daughters Stacey Linnette (Larry), Kelli Ashley, Dr. Letitia Robinson, and Michelle Sills. Grandchildren Brandon Linnette, Lauren Linnette, Jessika Mack (Troy), Tevinn Speller, Ciara Fabian (Lennon), and Jazmine Anderson (Andrew), Giavonna, and Giuliana. Brothers Dr. James H. Johnson (Richetta), Clifton Johnson (Ranae), Douglas Green (Anita), Ab-daul Rabb and sisters Denise Rivers and Dorothy Richardson (Rodney). With her continued legacy in great grandchildren Jayden, Makayla, Skylar, Carter, Aariyah, Aydian, Azaiah, and Jeremiah and hosts of nieces and nephews.

May we remember Marilyn, affectionately known as “Pinchy” by her family as a caring, loving, and supportive wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to all that knew her. May her spirit continue to comfort us all in the days and years to come and to teach us that although we will not hear her voice again, her presence is always with us, as God is also always with us.