Yvonne Jeffries Johnson, an HBCU graduate and former chair of the board of trustees of Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, passed away on December 4. She was 82 years old.
In 1993, Johnson made history as the first African American elected to the Greensboro City Council. Less than two decades later, she was elected mayor of Greensboro, making her the city’s first-ever Black mayor.
Outside of her work in public service, Johnson spent more than four decades as executive director of One Step Further, Inc., a nonprofit that provides legal support for Greensboro youth. She was also a dedicated volunteer, serving on the board of several organizations, including the United Way, the Greensboro Arts Council, Goodwill Industries, and the Triad Sickle-Cell Anemia Foundation. She served as chair of the Bennett College Board of Trustees for 10 years.
A two-time HBCU graduate, Johnson received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bennett College and her master’s degree in education with a concentration in guidance counseling from North Carolina A&T State University.
