Darnell Johnson

Darnell Johnson, 57, of Ottawa, Kansas died Thursday, July 2, 2026 at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas.

He was born September 21, 1968 in Shelby, Mississippi the son of Hildery Dorsey and Ojean Johnson.  He graduated from Broad Street High School in Shelby, Mississippi with the class of 1986.  He then played basketball and attended Clarendon Community College in Clarendon, Texas before completing his Bachelor’s Degree in social work at Ottawa University, where he also played basketball from 1988-1990, earning all conference honors in the 1989-1990 season. He then attended the University of Kansas, earning his Master’s Degree in Social Work and became a licensed therapist. 

On May 30th 1998, Darnell was united in marriage to Melanie Herken. They had 2 children, Krys and Kobe Johnson, and fostered his nephews, Pierre and Darius Johnson, where they came up as one family. They divorced after 10 years married and 18 years together, but lived separate, happy lives as co-parents. 

Darnell took great pride in his job as a social worker, which began at the Elizabeth Layton Center in 1996. He worked there for 20 years and touched many lives across all walks of life. He then worked at Midland Hospice and Pathway Family Services before working as the U.S.D. 290 social worker in 2018.  While working for the school district, he was also the assistant coach for the Ottawa High School basketball team. He had a deep passion for cutting grass and ran Johnson Lawn Care for over 25 years. 

Before moving to Kansas, Darnell grew up and attended Union Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Mississippi.  He then attended First Baptist Church and Grace Community Fellowship Church in Ottawa, Kansas.  Darnell’s biggest accomplishments were his kids, in whom he was very proud.  He was a fatherly figure to so many, and his positive, loving, and kind nature was loved by all who knew him. 

He was preceded in death by his father, Hildery Dorsey; his sister, Renae Michelle Johnson Williams; and nephew, Pierre Montez Johnson.

He is survived by his mother, Ojean Johnson of Ottawa, KS; four brothers, Destard Johnson, Michael Dorsey, Hildery-Chip Dorsey, Jr., Steve Holmes; four sisters, Cynthia Dorsey-Smith, Norma Dorsey, Anita Faye Dorsey-Ward, Janice Dorsey; three sons, Krystofer Johnson and his wife, Bri, Kobe Johnson, and Darius Johnson and his wife, Emili; a niece, Contessa Johnson and her daughter J’hordin; adopted daughter, Jayda Johnson; three grandchildren, Akari Johnson, Niyya Johnson, and Kaiden Lamay; and many uncles, aunts, nieces, and nephews.

Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 18, 2026 at the Fredrickson Chapel at Ottawa University, 1011 S Cedar St, Ottawa, KS 66067.  To celebrate Darnell’s life, a visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2026 at Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, 325 S. Hickory St, Ottawa, KS 66067.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Darnell Johnson Memorial Fund and sent c/o Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 14, Ottawa, KS 66067. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Darnell Johnson, please visit our floral store.