Erine Elaine Johnson, lovingly and affectionately known as “Lanie” or “Sissy,” was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 29, 1960, to Charles and Muriel Bell. She was later graciously and wholeheartedly adopted and lovingly raised by Carl and Margaret Johnson, who nurtured her deeply, guided her faithfully, and instilled in her the enduring values of strength, compassion, and resilience that she carried throughout her life.

Erine graduated proudly from Northwest High School and went on to live a life boldly defined by courage, service, and unwavering faith. After high school, she honorably joined the United States Army, where she quickly and impressively rose through the ranks to become the youngest Sergeant First Class in Indiana at just 25 years old. She served with remarkable distinction as a Senior Administrative Supervisor, Intelligence Photo Recon specialist, and highly skilled sharpshooter. Her excellence was consistently recognized through numerous prestigious honors, including the Indiana Commendation Medal, Indiana State Meritorious Award, Commander-in-Chief Performance Award, Governor’s Top Performance Award, and recognition as Top Recruiter in Indiana. She was honorably discharged on May 1, 1988, having served her country with exceptional dedication and pride.

A true pioneer and visionary entrepreneur, Erine boldly founded the first luxury taxi service in the Midwest, operating an exclusive, on-call luxury van service from 1998 to 2001. Through her work, she professionally and graciously served notable clients such as Vivica A. Fox, Patti LaBelle, and Luther Vandross. She also diligently pursued business studies at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and Martin University, held various management roles, and passionately explored her creative gifts through writing sci-fi fan fiction and managing Olympic athletes.

While stationed overseas, Erine joyfully welcomed her daughter, Terry, in Landstuhl, Germany. She later married Lawrence Dove, and together they lovingly welcomed their son, Michael, in 1992. Her deep love for travel continued throughout her life, as she lived abroad in Borjomi, Georgia; Makkeda, Israel; and Tirana, Albania, where she faithfully and compassionately shared her belief in Christ through evangelism.

Above all, Lanie was a woman of deep and abiding faith who devoted her life wholeheartedly to Christ. She will be remembered fondly for her kind spirit, her adventurous heart, and the genuine love she gave so freely and consistently to all who knew her.

She is survived by her daughter, Terry (Delmon, Sr.); her son, Michael; her mother, Jean Bell-Wells (Archibald); her brothers, Darrell (Kerry) and Michael; her sisters, Celeste and Jeri; and a host of deeply beloved nieces and nephews.