Sue Jane Shipes Johnson

Sue Jane Shipes Johnson, 79, of Columbia, SC, passed away on May 28, 2026. Sue Jane was born in Springfield, Missouri on June 7, 1946 to Winfred O. “Bo” Shipes and Thema Jennings Shipes. She lived the majority of her life in South Carolina. After graduating from Estill High School in 1964, she attended Winthrop University and later the University of South Carolina. 

Sue Jane will be remembered as an icon of Columbia’s political, music and art scene. She dedicated hours upon hours of time working for such organizations as the G.R.O.W (Grass Roots Organizational Workshop) Cafe, Palmetto Alliance, Rainbow Coalition, Energy Research Foundation and Greenpeace. Sue Jane had a strong passion for music and the arts. She supported and encouraged local musicians and artists directly by attending their practice sessions and performances at venues such as the “Beat”, Rockafellas, Rockaways and many others. She also encouraged local musicians and artists to perform at her vintage clothes shop, “Sue Jane’s Shop”, in the 1980s.

 Later in life Sue Jane enjoyed working in her backyard garden in Columbia, spending time with her grandchildren at her Mount Pleasant beach home and traveling within the US and Europe. She especially loved the Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Amsterdam, Paris, London and a good game of poker with her family. 

Sue Jane accepted Jesus Christ as her savior at an early age while attending Luray Christian Church. She was a member of Shandon Baptist Church and enjoyed performing with the senior church choir at both Shandon Baptist Church and Spring Valley Baptist Church. Sue Jane is survived by her beloved husband and best friend, David; her children, Maurice “Reese” Oliver Alsing III (Howaida “Lucy”) and Mary Salaine Alsing Banda; her four grandchildren, Sarah Banda Stogner (Justin), David L. Banda (Aubree), Maurice “Max” Oliver Alsing IV and William Alsing; stepbrother James Welch and stepsister Claudia Smith; aunt Angela Shipes, niece Leanne Shipes and nephew Douglas Shipes Jr. 

Sue Jane was preceded in death by her father Winfred O. “Bo” Shipes, her mother Thelma Jennings Shipes and her brother Doug Shipes.