Aleah Johnson
Aleah Johnson is a Funeral Director and Embalmer at Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home, where she has worked since 2024. She also serves as a Life Insurance Producer with Primerica, extending her commitment to helping individuals and families plan for life’s most important and difficult moments. With a background in corporate accounting and operations management, she brings strong organizational, financial, and leadership experience into the funeral service profession, where she now focuses on serving families with compassion, professionalism, and care during times of loss.
She earned her Associate of Applied Science in Mortuary Science and Embalming from Carl Sandburg College in 2024, following her Bachelor of Business Administration from Midstate College in 2015. Her professional foundation also includes certifications such as Six Sigma Green Belt and Global Change Management, along with recognition as a two-time “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges” honoree. She is a licensed life insurance professional and maintains involvement with the National Funeral Directors Association, reflecting her dedication to ongoing growth and industry standards.
Aleah’s work is deeply guided by values of honesty, integrity, leadership, and trustworthiness, which she considers essential in serving grieving families. She places strong emphasis on maintaining mental health and personal balance while working in an emotionally demanding profession, and she credits her faith as a grounding force in her life and career. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and spending time working in the yard, and she is passionate about community support efforts, including involvement with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters.
• Licensed in Life Insurance
• Six Sigma Green Belt Certified
• Certified in Global Change Management
• Midstate College - BBA
• Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges (2014 and 2015)
• National Funeral Director Association (NFDA)
• Six Sigma Green Belt
• Big Brother Big Sister Mentoring Organization
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a strong foundation of faith, consistent prayer, and hard work. My faith in God guides me through both personal and professional challenges, especially when supporting individuals and families during difficult times, while also reminding me that I must do my part through effort, accountability, and perseverance. I believe in overcoming obstacles through determination and self-reflection when needed, and I find great meaning not only in my own accomplishments but also in the role I play in helping others achieve success.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to be clear about your “why” and ensure it comes from genuine interest rather than external pressure, such as money or family expectations, as those can lead to burnout. Passion is important, but it must also be continuously strengthened through learning and reflection so you don’t lose sight of why you started this journey in the first place.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is maintaining mental health and passion in a demanding, emotionally intense environment while avoiding burnout. At the same time, this creates an opportunity to strengthen support systems and prioritize ethical, sustainable, and trustworthy care for both providers and the people we serve.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are faith, honesty, integrity, leadership, trustworthiness, and maintaining mental health. These principles guide how I show up for others, how I make decisions, and how I stay grounded, especially in demanding environments.