Born in Croydon, Surrey, England to Scottish parents, Andrew Emslie Johnston, a plumber, and Elizabeth "Eliza" Watson she had an older brother William.  

The family made plans to emmigrate to the US in October 1911 on board the Philadelphia but with difficulties caused by the coal strike they decided to wait for Elizabeth's sister, Margaret and her family, and rearranged their journey on the Titanic. 

The entire party was lost in the disaster and none of their bodies were ever recovered.