Uldean "Dean" Mixon Johnston, age 93, of Cornelia, Georgia passed away on Sunday, February 13, 2022. A graveside service for Dean will be held Friday, February 18, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Parkhill Cemetery, 4161 Macon Rd, Columbus, Georgia.
Dean was born in Columbus, GA on December 12, 1928; the daughter of Otis and Vastie Mixon. She grew up in Columbus graduating from Jordan High School and then attending Dekalb Community College. Dean married R. Jack Johnston at the Baptist Tabernacle in Columbus, GA on April 4, 1947. “She lived a life grounded in two principles that I believe she ingrained in all of us that she loved: courage and care. She lived a life of courage by living through some of the most extraordinary times in history. Growing up in the depression, coming of age during WWII, living most of her adult life under the shadow of the Cold War. All of these things demanded courage. Not the absence of fear, mind you. She never hesitated to tell us she too felt afraid at times. But it was her ability to overcome that fear that left an indelible mark on our lives. And she used that courage as a tool to enable her to care. She cared for her community, cared for her friends, and most of all cared for her family. I have never met anyone more caring and nurturing in my life (sorry Mom, you're a close second). I'm not sure if it was being the oldest girl in her family, or her motherly instincts, or if it was just an artifact of having grown up in times of uncertainty where people had to band together. But she made it her duty to love for and care for as many people around her as she could. To paraphrase an author, I'm nearly certain is one of the few she never read. 'The purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved'. While I know none of us, including Mimi, can live up to that example all of the time, I know that she tried her best. And in the end, that's all any of us can hope to do. Mimi loved a lot of things. She loved to read. She loved to meet people. She loved to talk. But there was one thing she loved most of all. She loved her family. Through thick and thin, through exuberance and heartbreak, through pride and disappointment, she loved all of us. No matter our faults. No matter our troubles. She loved us all the same. She celebrated with us and cried with us. It's said that the true nature of love is total empathy, the inherent natural phenomenon of fully feeling what those you love feel. She had a cord attached to each of our hearts and whatever frequency that cord struck resonated in hers'. It was through her love for us that I feel that I learned the nature of what it is to love others. What else is more powerful than a force that can imprint upon you simply by being in its presence? More than I ever thought was possible, she loved her family.” -Tyler Harmon
“As an avid reader and dedicated Sunday School teacher with a tenure of over 25 years, Mimi’s love of learning was as contagious as her smile and the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about any number of her favorite topics. But the steadfast example Mimi set for all of us is an admirable education all its own. Lessons we learned from her included how to be an amazing friend, devoted wife, and loving parent, how to make everyone feel loved and welcome, how to enjoy simple moments catching up over a glass of sweet tea on the screened porch. Mimi taught us to perfect a signature recipe so that even generations from now, there will still be reverent tone whenever the topic of her Thanksgiving dressing is mentioned.” -Amber Harmon
“Mimi knew how to laugh at herself and find the humor in life. She laughed at the crazy things her grandkids said. We could sit and talk for hours and laugh about life and try to solve the world’s problems. I’ll never forget her laugh and how she would get the giggles. Her joy and love for others was infectious. She never met a stranger and knew how to make others feel loved. To know Mimi was to love Mimi. She was loving, compassionate, faithful and full of grace.” -Jillian Gibson
“A beautiful part of the human experience is the indelible imprint of love we leave on one another when we are impacted in a meaningful way. All of us celebrating Mimi’s life today carry a piece of her legacy of strength and devotion, quick wit, and unwavering love of all of us. Continuing the traditions of our favorite memories with Mimi is such a beautiful way to honor her. Let’s raise a glass of sweet tea when we catch a Braves game on a hot summer day. Let’s give ourselves a break from the responsibilities of our daily lives to enjoy a good book every now and then. Let’s set the example with our own friendships and marriages. Let’s make everyone we meet feel loved and welcome, so that the imprint of her love is multiplied and unending.” -Amber Harmon
Dean is preceded in death by her loving husband of 67 years, R. Jack Johnston, and a son, Michael J. Johnston.
Survivors include her children, Melinda (Mike) Hudgens, Leslie (Jim) Harmon, Jeff (Tammy) Johnston; her grandchildren, Brian (Joyce) Johnston, Angelan Bryan, Whitney (Doug) Griffeth, Matthew Hudgens, Mark (Amber) Harmon, Jillian (Colby) Gibson, Tyler (Ashley) Harmon, Taylor Stewart, Jeremy Johnston, Emma Johnston; her great grandchildren, Haley (Trevor) Pruitt, Brandon Johnston, Mallory Bryan, Audrey Bryan, Douglas Griffeth, Dean Griffeth, Reagan Gibson, Carter Gibson, Sebastian Harmon; and a sister-in-law, Ruby Mixon.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shcolumbus.com for the Johnston family.
