Mourning Tiauania Nechelle Johnson

This has been a very hard posts for me to share. Our dear cousin Tia passed away on October 17, 2024, something I discovered months later. One day I realized it had been far too long since I’d heard from her, so I went to her Facebook page… only to find out that she was gone. My heart absolutely broke.

Tia and I had grown so close over the years. We often talked late into the night through Facebook Messenger or text - two night owls sharing stories about our kids, marriage, faith, and family history. Many nights, while I was up researching our family tree or working on projects, a message from her would pop up, and we’d chat for hours. She was funny, smart, kind, but more than anything she loved her family.

As her health challenges grew, Tia’s faith only deepened. She would send me scriptures, uplifting words, and beautiful testimonies about God’s healing power. Even while she was going through so much, she still poured out love and encouragement.

Life got busy for me as I stepped into the role of caregiver for my mom and sister, and I fell behind on keeping in touch. When I finally reached out again, I learned that she had already gone home to be with the Lord months before.

It’s been a year now since her passing, and I still feel her absence deeply. Tonight, I share this in her honor as a small tribute to the beautiful light she was in my life.

Love you and miss you cousin Tia.

⸻

Tiauania Nechelle Johnson (Tia) departed this life peacefully on October 17, 2024, with the love of her oldest daughter Estella Johnson, who was by her side.

Tiauania’s life journey began on August 7, 1975, in Wichita, Kansas. She was the beautiful daughter of Cynthia Hampton and Aaron Salton. Tia was the only child of her mother Cynthia and the oldest child of her father, Aaron. She attended Wichita Public Schools and was an alumna of North High School.

Tia's professional endeavors included becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant as well as a Certified Medication Aid. Tia loved caring for people. She did this while working as a caretaker for people with differing mental abilities, both in Wichita and during the time she lived in Buffalo, New York.

Tiauania loved the Lord. She grew up in church, singing in the kids' choir at New Testament Baptist Church; as an adult, she attended, and sang at St. Mark United Methodist Church, both in Wichita, Kansas. Tia later moved to Buffalo, New York where she attended Christ Crusaders Assembly Church.

Tia was employed by Medical Answering Service (MAS) where she worked until the Lord called her home. During her time in Buffalo, she met and married Bruce Hogan Jr. (BJ). Anyone that knew Tia, knew that she loved family. She loved being around family, especially all of her cousins, whom she considered brothers and sisters and their children who she considered nieces and nephews. Tiauania had three children whom she loved very much: Estella Johnson, Dayreal Johnson, and Bryce Johnson. Tiauania was proceeded in death by her mother Cynthia Hampton, brother Arrion Salton, and her father Aaron Salton.

Tia leaves to cherish her memories her husband Bruce Hogan Jr., two daughters Estella Johnson and Dayreal Johnson, and one son Bryce Johnson, a brother Brandon Salton (Tondrea, and a sister Angela Salton. One sister-in-law, two brother-in-laws, and a dear mother-in-Law, in addition to a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Memorial Services were held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Christ Crusaders Assembly Church in Buffalo, NY.

Lineage:

Tiauania N. Johnson is the daughter of Aaron Eugene "Guy" Salton Jr. and Cynthia Hampton;

Granddaughter of Aaron E. Salton, Sr. and Cecilia Richardson;

Great-Granddaughter of Margie Lee Bell-Salton & Nelson David Salton;

Great-Great-Granddaughter of Lusinda Alford-Bell & Ivory Bell;

Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter of Matthew Solomon Alford & Lucy Berry-Alford.