JEAN JOHNSON- PIEDMONT HEIGHTS ICON

07/19/2019

Piedmont Heights will soon see the departure of one of its most illustrious residents, Jean Johnson. Jean bought her house at 512 Rock Springs Road in 1972 and joined PHCA a few years later. She has served on its Board of Directors for the past 34 years, chaired and served on many committees and task forces, never seeking high post nor personal recognition. She was the calm voice of experience and reason, never excited nor angry, and could always be counted on for wise counsel. Jean will still be close by, however, in north Buckhead at the Renaissance on Peachtree, a full-service “independent living” high-rise. She spent two months there last year recuperating from surgery for a broken femur and made several friends, so will be an easy transition. Her apartment will be on the 12th floor with a grand view of downtown. Jean says she will maintain ties with Piedmont Heights through her memberships in the Piedmont Heights Bridge Club (which she founded), the Piedmont Heights Luncheon Club, and relationships with old friends. During her career Jean worked for three educational organizations in Atlanta starting at the Southern Regional Education Board, next for the Southern Education Foundation, and then for the Atlanta office of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges. She returned to the Southern Regional Education Board where she finished her career as Director of Human Resources, retiring in 2000. Jean’s dedication to public service extended well beyond the neighborhood. She served many years as PHCA’s representative to Neighborhood Planning Unit F. She garnered much professional recognition and received an Atlanta Planning Advisory Board Award for the City of Atlanta’s Neighborhoods Matter in 2016. When asked what the highlight of her life was, however, Jean responded without hesitation friends made and her many years of service to Piedmont Heights. In 2013, to recognize Jean’s long service to our neighborhood, the PHCA Board created and awarded her the “Jean Johnson Award” which since has been awarded annually to a PHCA board member for outstanding service to Piedmont Heights. Jean’s many friends in Piedmont Heights will sorely miss having her in their midst. We all thank her from the bottoms of our hearts and wish her a fond farewell and Godspeed in her future endeavors.

By Bill Seay , Rock Springs Rd