Eva Sue Johnson

Eva Sue Johnson, 73, of Cincinnati passed away with her family by her side on Sunday, December 12, 2021.

The daughter of the late Omer "Gene" and Eva Mae (Elliston) Johnson, Sue grew up in Latonia, KY, where her father owned B&E Paints. Sue attended Holy Cross Elementary and High School and was a proud graduate of the HC Class of 1965. After graduation, she attended Spaulding University where she made lifelong friends before transferring to the University of Dayton where she proudly became a Flyer for life.

Sue went on to earn her master's degree in social work and was incredibly proud of her work and license in the field. In addition to her work with clients, Sue spent many years supervising and mentoring other social workers through her work at Clermont Mercy Hospital, Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati, Caracole, and AVOC. Sue was particularly passionate about the work her staff did to help those living with HIV and AIDS in the Cincinnati area.
Sue was committed to social justice in all forms. A cat-lover, she helped numerous cats over the years and kept many as pets and they brought her great joy. Sue also won a Corbett Award for her work with the Appalachian Festival, a volunteer activity she thoroughly enjoyed.

Above all else, Sue loved her family and her favorite role was that of being an aunt. Whether it was driving them in her Karmann-Ghia or Mazda RX-7 or taking them on their own special vacation, she relished her time with her nieces and nephews. She was not above spoiling every one of them and there was no bigger champion for them than her. Sue loved to celebrate their accomplishments and her belief that they would meet any goal set before them was unmatched. Her family was glad to be able to return this love to Aunt Sue during the last years of her life.

In addition to her parents, Sue is reunited again with her sister, Patti, and her brother and sister-in-law, Max A. and Pat Cleek. Sue is survived by her brother-in-law, Paul Brinkman, her niece, Mitzi (Tommy) Hehman and nephews Marc (Pam) Cleek, Michael (Angie) Brinkman, Jeff Brinkman, and Kevin Brinkman. She is also loved by her great-nieces and nephews Michelle, Thomas, Nick, Jake, Lauren, Ben, Joel, Andrew, and William, many of whom have children of their own.

Sue will be buried beside her parents at a later date. While she wished no formal services, her family asks that we all strive to treat each person we encounter with dignity; this was the bedrock of her career. Those wishing to remember Sue may send donations to the the Patti Johnson Brinkman Scholarship c/o Holy Cross High School, 3617 Church Street, Covington, KY 41015.