Alexandria Alex Johnson

Alexandria “Alex” Johnson brought kindness and energy to the people around her. Known to friends and coworkers simply as Alex, she worked as a bartender at Sloppy Chops on West McNichols Road, where regulars and colleagues remembered her for an infectious attitude and a knack for making others feel welcome. Alex served as lead bartender for about a year and a half and was widely described by family and friends as sweet, lovable and hard-working.

Raised after being adopted as an infant and growing up in the Detroit area, Alex built strong connections in her community. Her mother, Charlotte Johnson, and other loved ones highlighted how people naturally gravitated to Alex — she made lasting friendships and was devoted to her family, including her young child. Those who knew her said she dreamed of one day opening her own business and took pride in the hospitality work she did while supporting those hopes.

After her death in late August 2023, neighbors, coworkers and community members gathered to honor Alex’s life with a vigil and memorial events that reflected the affection she inspired. Her employer and friends pledged to remember her by keeping her name alive through community goodwill and by supporting efforts to address the violence that took her from them. Though public records and news coverage focus on the circumstances surrounding her death, those who loved Alex emphasize the warmth, humor and generosity that defined her day-to-day life.

Alex’s life mattered to many: as a mother, as a friend, and as a trusted presence behind the bar where she worked. While details shared publicly are limited, the tributes and the turnout at memorial gatherings offer a clear picture of a young woman who was valued deeply by family and community. This page honors Alex for who she was in life — a caring, hardworking person whose memory lives in the stories, smiles and remembrance of those she touched.