The Aggie family, along with the entire Greensboro community, is mourning the loss of an incredible leader, Yvonne Jeffries Johnson ’78, who passed away on December 4, 2024, at the age of 82. Johnson was a groundbreaking figure, becoming the first African American elected to the Greensboro City Council and later serving as the city’s first Black mayor from 2007 to 2009. Her impact on the community, both locally and nationally, is immeasurable.

A Greensboro native, Johnson grew up just a stone’s throw away from North Carolina A&T State University, where her roots in the community ran deep. She was the daughter of a minister and the niece of the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in dairy science. She spent her childhood on what was once the university’s farmland, which shaped her deep sense of community and commitment to service

After graduating from Dudley High School, Johnson continued her academic journey at Bennett College, where she became a part of history by participating in the sit-in protests led by the A&T Four, which helped challenge the segregated lunch counter at Woolworth’s in downtown Greensboro. This movement, which contributed to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, would stay with her throughout her life.

After earning her bachelor’s degree from Bennett, Johnson went on to get a Master’s in Education with a focus on Guidance Counseling from North Carolina A&T. Her passion for helping young people led her to establish One Step Further, a nonprofit dedicated to providing court alternative programs and mediation for youth in legal trouble. More than 40 years later, the organization is still going strong and continues to play a vital role in Greensboro’s juvenile justice system.

Johnson’s political career took off in 1993 when she was elected to the Greensboro City Council. In 2001, she made history again, becoming the first African American to serve as Mayor Pro-Tem. Then, in 2007, she was elected as Greensboro’s mayor, a role she served in with grace and dedication for two years. Her tenure as mayor was marked by her unwavering focus on racial justice, environmental issues, and providing support for the city’s most vulnerable residents. Even after her term as mayor ended, she returned to the City Council in 2011 and remained a committed public servant until her passing.

Johnson’s work extended far beyond her official duties. She was involved in numerous organizations, including the United Way Board of Directors, the Triad Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, and the Bennett College Board of Trustees. Her leadership earned her numerous accolades, including the African-American Women of Distinction Award and the Gandhi, King, Ikeda Award for Peace from Morehouse College.

As the community grieves her loss, tributes have poured in from local officials, friends, and organizations, including North Carolina A&T and Bennett College. In honor of Johnson’s life and legacy, flags across the city will be lowered to half-staff, and the downtown Greene Street Parking Deck will be illuminated in purple this Friday. Services for Johnson will take place this weekend, with visitation on Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Perry J. Brown Funeral Home. On Saturday, a horse-drawn procession will lead to Bennett College’s Annie Merner Pfeiffer Chapel, where her Celebration of Life Service will begin at 1 p.m. The service will also be streamed online at https://www.bennett.edu/live for those who can’t attend in person.

In place of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Bennett College in memory of Yvonne Jeffries Johnson ’64.

Yvonne Jeffries Johnson was more than just a trailblazer. She was a woman of deep faith, fierce determination, and a heart devoted to helping others. Her legacy will live on in the many lives she touched and the community she helped to build. She will always be remembered as a leader who paved the way for others and a servant who gave everything to her city.