Sandra Lynn Vance Johnson, 54, was a beloved wife, mother, Nana, mentor, minister and friend. She and her husband, Reverend Tony Ray Johnson of Blacksburg, were married for nearly 32 years. Born Feb. 24, 1972, Sandra grew up in Narrows and graduated from Narrows High School. She remained close friends with many of her high school classmates throughout her life. Sandra was formerly an ordained minister in the Shenandoah District of the Wesleyan Church and served as lead pastor of Three Strand Church. She was a member of Christ Wesleyan Church in Christiansburg. A gifted and effective communicator, she was often invited to preach and speak at gatherings. She worked for many years in customer service across several organizations, where she was frequently recognized for her outstanding performance. Creative and artistic, Sandra enjoyed drawing, writing, poetry, painting and digital art. Sandra especially cherished being Nana to her grandchildren. She adored Lizzie, Gabby, Wade and Bear, and always wanted to spend time with them. She is survived by her husband, Reverend Tony Ray Johnson, of Blacksburg; son, Tommy Johnson, his wife, Lyndy, and their sons, Wade and Bear, of Mechanicsville, Virginia; daughter, Katherine Calloway, her husband, Josh, and their daughters, Lizzie and Gabby, of Christiansburg; parents, Glenn and Peggy Vance, of Narrows; sister, Patricia Cantrell, of Staunton, Virginia, and Patricia’s sons, Robbie and Marco; brother and sister-in-love, Bob and Trish Cantrell, of Florida; sister-in-law, April Whitehurst, her husband, David, and her sons, Thrasher, Xander and Koehler, of Christiansburg; mother-in-law, Norma Hall, of Dublin; father-in-law, Jack Johnson, of Peterstown, West Virginia; and many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins. A memorial service was held at McCoy Funeral Home on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Sandra’s memory may contribute to a fund supporting her parents, Glenn and Peggy Vance. Contributions may be made at: https://gofund.me/2938ccddf.
