Glenda Sue Johnson, a Gilmer native who served as the county’s Clerk of Court for 22 years, is being remembered as someone always willing to help and whose kind, giving personality made her a friend to many.
Johnson passed away March 23 at age 81.
“She was professional, very kind and willing to help — always available to answer questions and offer advice,” said Appalachian Circuit Chief Superior Court Judge Brenda Weaver, who first met and worked alongside Johnson as a young attorney. “(Glenda Sue) performed her job in a gracious manner, never forgetting that she was elected to serve the people she loved, the citizens of Gilmer County. She was a true public servant.”
‘Set a high standard’
Johnson worked at several other places in the local community before first running for and being elected court clerk in 1996.
She’d managed the county’s first Dollar General store and worked at the local hosiery mill prior to becoming deputy clerk in the office of longtime court clerk Willard Ralston, who she eventually succeeded.
For several years, she and husband, Edmond, ran the C&K Grocery Store in downtown Ellijay. David Westmoreland, a former Ellijay mayor and city councilmember, fondly remembered visiting that store with his brother, Robert, as kids.
“Back in those days, there wasn’t Ingles, Piggly Wiggly or other supermarkets (here). Just the little grocery stores, and that’s what it was,” Westmoreland said. “We went by there just about every day as kids, so I knew Glenda Sue from the time she was a young adult. She was always very upbeat and always nice to us kids. She never changed (in that respect).”
Amy Johnson, Gilmer’s current court clerk and Johnson’s daughter-in-law, said Johnson was an inspiration to her early on. Not only was she the county’s first female Clerk of Court, but also the first female member of the local Lion’s Club, Amy noted.
“I first met her in 2007 when she interviewed me for the civil clerk position. I had the utmost respect for her within 10 minutes into that interview. I immediately knew this was a classy southern woman, who had poise, confidence and carried herself with dignity,” Amy said. “But, with all of these characteristics, she wasn’t prideful in the least. She was a humble lady. She inspired me and so many others to do better and to be better.
On a similar note, Judge Weaver said, “Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said, ‘Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.’ Glenda Sue set a high standard not only for women who serve as public officials, but for men as well. She came into work early and left late. She believed that you earned your office every day.”
Amy said Johnson was never one to “beat around the bush” or lie.
“If she didn’t agree with something, she approached it politely and with grace, but always with truth,” she added. “People who knew her well knew if she started giving you the ‘big eyes,’ it was time to hush!”
Westmoreland said politics did not change Johnson after she sought public office.
“There weren’t any Republicans or Democrats when it came to her. Everybody just loved her,” he added.
Johnson ran unopposed in elections during her 22 years as court clerk, Westmoreland recalled.
“Nobody would run against her. There was no reason to. She did such a good job,” he said.
Probate Judge Scott Chastain had also known Johnson long before she ran for public office. He later worked closely with her at the courthouse.
“She had a huge heart, and it seemed like she cared for everybody,” Chastain said. “She had a way about her, and, in my opinion, it was her relationship with God that made her someone you could approach and feel comfortable talking to. That was a big part of who she was.”
Sara Milton, a former employee of the court clerk’s office and a longtime friend of Johnson’s, said Johnson “went out of her way to help everybody.”
“We grew up together, from (the time we were) little girls riding our bicycles. She had a good heart and was always really good to people, helping them in all kinds of different ways,” said Milton. “She helped them with money if they needed money, and she helped them with prayer if they needed prayer. She just helped them with whatever their needs were.”
Historical resource
Several of Johnson’s friends and family members also spoke about her love of history and vast knowledge of Gilmer County’s past.
In her time as leader of the county’s official record-keeping office — which handles property deeds, plats, liens, civil/criminal court case files and other documents — that knowledge often came in handy for both office employees and others searching for information.
“She was born and raised in Gilmer County and was full of historical knowledge. If you needed to know anything, like who lived where, who was whose mom or dad, where they worked, etc., you could just ask her,” Amy said.
“She loved nostalgia and appreciated the history of Gilmer County,” said Judge Weaver. “She enjoyed discussing old photos of Ellijay and sharing memories. Glenda Sue, herself, is an integral part of the history of this county.”
Leslie Thomas, Gilmer Historical Society president, called on Johnson several times over the years for information about local historical topics like Fort Hetzel, the Gilmer County Land Lottery and the origin of Flint Hill Community Church. Johnson’s parents had been caretakers at Flint Hill for many years, and Johnson took over that role after they passed, Amy noted.
“Any time I talked with Glenda Sue, she was always most helpful,” said Thomas.
Johnson retired from the court clerk’s office in 2019. During the last few years, she‘d been active with her church and enjoyed traveling, Amy said.
“She retired in February 2019. Soon after is when COVID hit, so she was stuck at home for a good while. She did take a 10-day drive out west to Wyoming in 2020 with family and another driving trip up north all the way to Maine in 2021,” she added.