Obituary For Yvonne Johnson

 

Yvonne Jeffries Johnson, was born on October 26, 1942 in Greensboro to the late Rev. Vernon F. Jeffries and late Ruby Jeffries. At an early age, she went to live with her aunt and uncle, the late Dr. W.L. Kennedy and Lillian Jeffries Kennedy and continued to reside with them until her marriage. Yvonne is a proud Tribal Member of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation. She was very involved in the Girl’s Scouts of America becoming a troop leader for several years. She graduated from Dudley High School in 1960 and Bennett College in 1964, with a BA in Psychology. She then enrolled in Howard University and received a Graduate Fellowship. In 1978 Johnson received her Master of Science degree in Guidance Counseling from North Carolina A&T University.

 

On March 20, 1965, Yvonne married the love of her life, Attorney Walter T. Johnson, Jr. Immediately after marrying Walter, the couple moved to Newburgh, New York and resided at Stewart Air Force Base. Yvonne enjoyed her time in New York with friends while working as a Social Worker in Orange County, NY.

 

Yvonne and Walter desired to start a family and had their first child in 1968 after moving back to Greensboro, NC. By 1976, Yvonne and Walter’s had four beautiful children, Walter T., III, Vernon, Lisa, and Shannon, which they adored. In that same year, she and Walter became Co-Owners of Barjo Inc. a chemical manufacturing business while Yvonne served as President and worked for the company for five years. After leaving Barjo in 1983, Johnson became the Director of One Step Further, Inc, a non-profit agency that aided non-felony offenders. She served as Executive Director for more than 40 years until her retirement in June 2024. Under her administration eleven programs were developed to serve the citizens of Greensboro.

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In 1993, Johnson decided to enter politics in her hometown and was elected to the Greensboro City Council. In 1998, she was elected Mayor Pro Tem and served in this capacity for six years before coming Greensboro Mayor in 2007. She won this election becoming Greensboro’s first African American Mayor. During her single term as Mayor, she continued to work for policies that addressed long-term poverty in her city and helped non-felony offenders. Johnson did not win re-election as Mayor but won an at-large seat on the Greensboro City Council in 2011.

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Yvonne Johnson remained civically active. She was a member of The Greensboro Drifters, Inc. which she founded. She also served as the youngest National President of the National Drifters, Inc. She was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She served on the board of several organizations, having served as Chair of the Bennett College Board of Trustees for ten years and on the Board of Directors for the local United Way. She also served on the boards of the Malachi House; Triad Sickle-Cell Anemia Foundation; the Youth Services Bureau; the YWCA; Greensboro Cerebral Palsy School; and the Greensboro Child Advocacy Board.
She also served on several boards and commissions. Yvonne was also surprised by the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest recognition in the state by Governor Roy Cooper.

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Yvonne was predeceased by her beloved husband Walter; they celebrated 56 years of marital bliss. Yvonne is survived by her children: Walter T. Johnson III (Samara), Vernon Johnson (Dr. Tina), Attorney Lisa Yvonne Johnson-Tonkins (Elbert) and Shannon Johnson-Lackey (Tarji). Her adoration for her children was only matched by the love for her eight grandchildren: Vernon “Kenji” Johnson, Jalen Tonkins, Teara Johnson, Devin Tonkins, Lillian Sequoyah Johnson, Sanai’ Yvonne Johnson, Maya Grace Johnson and Malik Tonkins and three great grandchildren, Kamaari, AuliaGracie and Carmelo. She was also survived by her only sister Jacqueline Kpeglo; nieces: Attorney Enyonam Williams (Daniel), Senadzi Haley (Evan), Mary Alice Shaw (Rodney), Lillian Francis (Eric); nephew, Rodger Dickerson (Alecia), Mitchell Trice (Stephanie).

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A viewing will be held at Perry Brown Funeral Home located at 909 E. Market Street Greensboro, NC 27401 on Friday, December 13 from 5-7 p.m. A parade in Yvonne’s honor will start at 11 a.m. beginning at Brown Funeral Home, to Dudley St ending on Washington St behind Bennett College’s Chapel. Funeral will be held on Saturday, December 14 beginning at 1 p.m. Family hour is from 12-1 p.m. at Annie Merner Pfeiffer Chapel on the campus of Bennett College. In lieu of flowers, please donated to Bennett College in Yvonne’s honor.

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