Believing in the importance of education, Sally Marilyn Simmons Johnson devoted her time to giving others access to learning. Born in Rose Hill, Mississippi on August 5, 1939, Marilyn was the daughter of educators Lycurgus and Eunice Read Simmons. She was an excellent student, loved writing poetry and short stories, and graduated valedictorian of her high school class. Marilyn went on to earn multiple degrees in literature and library science. She earned a bachelor's degree at the Mississippi State College for Women, then went on to earn graduate degrees at the University of Florida and University of Alabama.

Working at Lake City Junior College, Marilyn met the handsome young history professor, Kenneth Johnson. When he asked her out, she canceled plans so she could say "yes." Marilyn and Ken were married in Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1964.

In 1965, the newlyweds moved to Florence, Alabama. Marilyn began work at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library. She worked in the area of acquisitions, choosing books that would benefit the community. Later, she spent time with elementary students as their school librarian. Then she took a position at the University of North Alabama as an academic librarian teaching techniques of internet research. After retirement, she returned to the public library to continue the work she loved.

When it came to parenting, Marilyn remembered her own training in education which taught that the most important things you can do for a child were to read to them and take them places. This became her firm belief and she lived into this conviction. Each day, she read to her two daughters until they gradually learned to read to her, and to carry a love for the magic and joy found in a book.

Marilyn also loved to travel. She and her family visited many U.S. states and countries around the world. Throughout her life, she boarded riverboats, airplanes, cruise ships and trains to venture into the unknown and to interact with a new people in new places. Marilyn was a citizen of the world, and she taught the enjoyment of new experiences and the love of learning to the generations who came after her.

Marilyn is survived by her daughters, Sally Ruth Johnson and Nancy Ann Johnson and grandchildren, Vivian Nichole Johnson-Pierson and Roland Daniel Johnson-Pierson, and her extended family; nephew, John Taft Johnson (Karen); great niece, Julia Adele Johnson Ludvik (Ryan), great nephew, Christopher Daniel Johnson (Ali) and their children Roy Johnson and Walt Johnson.

Marilyn passed away on September 19, 2023. Her funeral will be on Saturday, September 23 at 10:00am at the Evans-Brown Funeral Home in Florala, Alabama. A graveside service will follow at Beda Cemetery in Wing, Alabama.