Esther Johnson

On Friday, November 17, 2023 Esther Ann Taylor Lloyd Johnson
peacefully crossed over to joyfully reunite with her beloved children
who were waiting for her on the other side, along with a long line of
ancestors who came to welcome her home.
She was born on December 27, 1927 to Estelle Wye and William C
Reed, and was named Ann Reed. When she was five years old, she was
adopted by Robert and Esther Taylor and her name was changed to
Esther Ann Taylor. Esther went to Immaculate Conception Grammar
School in Ithaca and graduated from Ithaca High School on June 26,
1945.

Esther began piano lessons taught by one of the nuns at Immaculate
Conception when she was five years old. When she graduated high
school she went to Nazareth College in Rochester NY to study piano.
She was professionally and classically trained, and the only reason she
did not pursue a professional career in music is that she thought she
could not perform without using sheet music. Throughout her life, her
music brought her joy. Even in her final months when she was unable to
sit at a piano and play, she would play an invisible keyboard on her
blanket whenever she heard a piano piece she enjoyed. Her love of
music and talent was passed down to all of her children and all of her
grandchildren, who have passed it onto their own children. We all sing
and play various instruments – flute, piano, violin, saxophone, guitar,
and many more – because of this gift given to us by her.

Esther married Al C Lloyd on November 27, 1946 and welcomed her
first child, Alvin Charles Lloyd on June 5th, 1947. She and Al had five
children all within five years: Alvin “Charles,” Patricia “Patty” Ann,
Michael Andrew, David Alexander, and Valerie Jeanne. Until 1958 they

lived on Cleveland Avenue in Ithaca, and after that they lived on Nelson
Road, in Danby, NY.
Esther worked at Cornell University in the Animal Science department
lab at Morrison Hall testing dairy samples. In 1966 she and Al moved to
Syracuse, NY, where they eventually divorced. She moved back to
Ithaca when she married Robert “Bobby” Johnson, and lived with him in
a few locations, including Wood Street. Her grandchildren have fond
memories of visiting Grandma at the Wood Street house.
Esther began working in the Ithaca Public Schools as a school secretary
at DeWitt Middle School for many years and was well-loved by
hundreds of children whom she mentored. She knew all of them by
name, and treated all of them as though they were her own
grandchildren. She often visited students and attended their special
events and celebrations outside of school.
Eventually Esther and Bobby moved to Nates Floral Estates where she
lived until Bobby passed and she moved into her first nursing home,
Longview Senior Living Community. She then moved to Cayuga Ridge
Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility where she spent her last years. Even
as her memory declined, Esther retained her signature attention to detail
and ability to make people feel loved, noticed, and appreciated. The staff
at Cayuga Ridge universally loved Esther and particularly loved how
Esther would always take the time to compliment them on their hair, or
to comment on how much she liked how colorful their clothing was.
Esther endured great tragedy throughout her life, and her greatest
sorrows were the premature deaths of four of her five children. She was
dedicated to helping support and guide her grandchildren, especially

those who were left behind when their parents unexpectedly passed on.
All of her grandchildren knew that she was a safe and nurturing place to
go to for love and support when they felt most alone and battered by the
world.
She was comforted by her last child, Patty, who lives five hours away in
Massachusetts, but who made sure to video call her each week with the
support of Esther’s speech therapist Jenn Sharma, who was instrumental
in making sure Esther was able to communicate with her daughter. Patty
also sent letters and handmade cards to her mother every week,
reminding Esther of childhood experiences Patty was able to enjoy with
her and her siblings. These letters were treasured by Esther and carried
with her whenever she left her room.
In her final moments, Esther was surrounded by her grandchildren and
great-grandchildren and her newest great-great-grandson, who were
sharing memories of our childhoods with our loving Grandmother.
Esther’s favorite piano piece Claire De Lune by Debussy was playing in
the room, and the piece ended when she took her last breath.
Esther was predeceased by her son Michael Andrew Lloyd of Ithaca,
NY, her son Alvin “Charles” Lloyd of Syracuse, NY, her son David
Alexander Lloyd of Ithaca, NY, her daughter Valerie Jeanne Spears, of
Binghamton, NY, her granddaughter Devin Nicole Spears, of
Binghamton, NY, and her husband Robert “Bobby” Johnson, of Ithaca,
NY. She leaves behind her daughter Patricia “Patty” Ann Lloyd Jones of
Springfield, MA, 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and four
great-grandchildren.

Donations in Esther's name can be made to The EPAC Devin Spears Memorial Scholarship Fund in memory of her beloved granddaughter; EPAC, 102 Washington Ave, Endicott, NY 13760 (their number is 607-785-8903 if that is necessary).