Alice Marie Johnson Bio: Memoir, Age, Net Worth, Politics, Appointment, Height, Husband, Arrest, Books, Ethnicity

Alice Marie Johnson is an American criminal-justice reform advocate, author, and speaker whose transformation from a life sentence without parole to a leading voice for reform has inspired millions.

Her advocacy work has influenced clemency policy discussions and positioned her among the most visible modern activists for second chances in the U.S.

Profile

• Full name: Alice Marie Johnson
• Date of birth: May 30, 1955
• Age: 70 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Olive Branch, Mississippi, U.S.
• State of origin: Mississippi, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Criminal-Justice Reform Advocate, Author, Motivational Speaker, Former Federal Prisoner
• Height: 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
• Weight: Approx. 68 kg (150 lbs)
• Eye color: Brown
• Hair color: Black (graying)
• Parents: Father – Reverend Walter Lewis; Mother – Ada Mae Lewis (both deceased, former sharecroppers)
• Siblings: Eight siblings
• Spouse: Previously married
• Children: Four grown children
• Relationship status: Single
• Religion: Christian (Ordained Minister)
• Ethnicity: African-American
• Net worth: $2 million USD

Early Life and Education

Alice Marie Johnson (70 years old) was born on May 30, 1955, in Olive Branch, Mississippi. She was one of nine children born to Reverend Walter and Ada Mae Lewis, both sharecroppers who instilled strong Christian values and a sense of community service in their children. Growing up in the segregated South, she faced early challenges, becoming a mother while still in high school.

Johnson worked as a secretary and later spent nearly a decade at FedEx before economic hardship following her layoff led to her involvement in a drug-trafficking operation.

Though she has not publicly disclosed formal college education details, Johnson has stated she completed numerous certifications and faith-based programs during her incarceration that shaped her later advocacy and ministry work.

Personal Life

Alice Marie Johnson’s life has been defined by perseverance and faith. She is a proud mother of four children, grandmother to ten grandchildren, and great-grandmother to multiple great-grandchildren.

After decades of personal struggle and transformation, she became an ordained minister and motivational speaker. She lives in Memphis, Tennessee, where she continues to lead faith and reform initiatives through her organization, Taking Action for Good (TAG).

Career

Before her conviction, Alice Johnson’s career began in clerical work and business operations at FedEx. Her life changed dramatically after a 1993 arrest and subsequent 1996 federal conviction on charges of drug conspiracy and money laundering, resulting in a life sentence without parole.

During her 21 years in prison, she became a spiritual leader, counselor, and mentor to other inmates. Her case gained national attention after a 2017 Mic interview went viral, leading to advocacy from Kim Kardashian West and legal reform groups.

On June 6, 2018, President Donald Trump granted her clemency, and in August 2020, she received a full presidential pardon. Since then, she has authored her memoir After Life: My Journey from Incarceration to Freedom (HarperCollins, 2019) and founded the Taking Action for Good Foundation, dedicated to clemency reform and reentry support.

In February 2025, she was appointed as the first-ever U.S. “Pardon Czar” under the Trump administration, responsible for advising on executive clemency policy and expanding rehabilitation programs.

Awards

• Trump’s State of the Union Recognition (2020): Honored as a symbol of second chances.
• Advocate of the Year (2021): Awarded by the American Civil Rights Association.
• NAACP Image Awards Nominee (2020): For her memoir After Life.
• TIME 100 Honoree (2019): Recognized among the most influential people in the world for her advocacy.
• Southern Christian Leadership Conference Humanitarian Award (2022).

Net Worth

Alice Johnson‘s net worth is estimated to be at least $2 million USD. Her net worth primarily comes from book sales, paid speaking engagements, consulting roles in criminal-justice reform organizations, and appearances in media projects.

Social Media

• Instagram: @AliceMarieFree
• Twitter (X): @AliceMarieJ
• YouTube: Alice Marie Johnson

Filmography

• Featured in the Netflix documentary The Justice Project (2020)
• Appeared in The First Step (2021), a film about criminal-justice reform efforts

Books

• After Life: My Journey From Incarceration to Freedom (2019, HarperCollins) – a national bestseller chronicling her prison experience and redemption journey