Family, Friends Gather to Remember Aja Johnson

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A 7-year-old Oklahoma girl was laid to rest Wednesday afternoon. Friends and family gathered to say their final goodbyes to Aja Johnson. 

It was not how anyone wanted Aja's life to end, but given all that's transpired over the last several weeks, wondering if Aja wouldn't even be found, the family is at least happy to know she's been given a proper burial.

It was a funeral that took place decades too early. The funeral was for Aja Johnson; the young girl whose story has touched the hearts of many.

For family and friends it was an emotional goodbye to a girl they had watched grow up, but for everyone else Aja's story started several weeks ago when she was taken by her former stepfather, Lester Hobbs. Aja's story came to a tragic end when Aja's body was discovered in a wooden area in Norman. It was an ending the family feared, but one they say finally has her in the right place.

"My heart goes out to those who never find their loved ones who are kidnapped and taken," said Aja's father, J.J. Johnson. "The two months I've gone through, I can't imagine where people do that for months and years at a time."

And while the family grieves, Aja's father hopes his daughter's story lives on unlike the criticism he says OSBI has received for not finding his daughter sooner.

"I have nothing against OSBI, I feel they have done everything they can to resolve this with all their manpower," said Johnson. "They tried their very best."

The one thing Aja's father says has made saying goodbye to his daughter easier is that he knows the kind of impact she had on the community along with the responses and well wishes he has received.

"I'd tell you Aja would want to thank you," said Johnson. "If she was here she would thank you for trying to do what you did for her."

In all it's estimated about 400 people attended Aja's memorial service. There were so many that some people even had to sit in the overflow room.

Johnson's body was found near Lake Thunderbird near Norman last week. The state Medical Examiner's office is still trying to determine the exact cause of her death.

Hobbs was charged with kidnapping Aja and murdering her mother, his estranged wife, Tonya Hobbs, in January.

Family and friends who were unable to attend Aja's funeral service today can still sign the guest book and leave condolences by going to www.vondelsmithmortuary.com.

More:
- M.E.'s Office Releases Preliminary Autopsy Reports for Aja Johnson, Lester Hobbs
- OSBI Defends Investigation in Aja Johnson Case
- Investigation Continues After Bodies of Aja Johnson, Lester Hobbs Possibly Found in Norman
- OSBI Explains Delay in Notifying Aja Johnson's Family
- Hobbs' Family Says They Had Feeling Hobbs Would Go to Norman
- Car, Bodies Found in Connection With Case of Missing Girl Aja Johnson
- OSBI Pleads For Safe Return of Aja Johnson
- Search Continues for Missing Oklahoma Girl as Authorities Investigate Her Mother's Death
- OSBI Working Against Time to Find Missing 7-Year-Old
- Alleged Murderer's Family Pleads For Release of Aja Johnson
- Search Continues for Missing Oklahoma Girl
- Surveillance Photos Show Kidnapping, Murder Suspect on Day of Murder