Yesterday, Grayce and I had the honor of attending the memorial service for Khalillah Marie Johnson-Butler, a remarkable member of the Neighborhood Council community who passed away recently at just 26 years old. Her service was held at the Loyola Marymount University Student Memorial on the Bluff, where they honor those who died while students at LMU, where Khalillah was studying for her Master’s in School Counseling. .
I came to know Khalillah through her time as the Youth-Educational Representative for the Park Mesa Heights Community Council board, where she served with her mother, KimMarie.
In addition to her service on the neighborhood council, Khalillah was active throughout South LA, where she served on non-profit boards and dispute resolution committees. She was a fierce advocate for empowering marginalized communities who always sought out truth and understanding. For her work, Khalillah was honored at the memorial service by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas.
Khalillah’s service was attended by many loved ones, including friends, family, fellow neighborhood council board members, and members of the LMU community. It was a great opportunity to celebrate someone who meant so much to so many. We will miss Khalillah’s beautiful spirit and the light she brought to the world.
