Martha Mauney Johns

A native of Shelby, NC, she was the daughter of the late Macie Yelton and Richard Grady Mauney. Martha graduated from Shelby High School in 1943, Mars Hill College in 1945 and Furman University in 1947.

She served as First Lady of Stetson University, DeLand, Florida from 1970-1976 and First Lady of Furman University from 1976-1994.

Martha was a member of First Baptist Church Greenville, Faculty Wives Club at Furman, the Furman Ladies Golf Association, Green Valley Ladies Golf Association, McKissick Book Club, Wildwood Garden Club, and OLLI at Furman.

Martha received the Outstanding Alumni Award from Furman in 1994. Because of her dedication to Furman, the trustees named the Rose Garden which she had restored while living at White Oaks, the President’s Home, the Martha Mauney Johns Rose Garden. She was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree from Furman in 1994.

She is predeceased by her husband, John E. Johns, and her son, John E. Johns, Jr.

She is survived by her sons, Steven Maxwell Johns (Norine); Marcus Mauney Johns (George); daughter-in-law Tracey Shealy Johns; three grandchildren, Evan Thomas Johns, William Mauney Johns, Lauren Johns Hutto, and great grandsons, Joshua Reeves Hutto, Briggs Sullivan Hutto, and John Liam Johns.

A visitation will be held Sunday, September 17, 2023, from 3:30pm until 5:00 pm at Mackey Funerals and Cremations, 311 Century Drive, Greenville, SC. The funeral will be Monday, September 18, 2023, at 11:00 am at Charles E. Daniel Chapel, Furman University with Dr. Tony Hopkins officiating. A private burial will follow at Springwood Cemetery in the Furman University plot.

The family respectfully requests that flowers be omitted. Memorials may be designated to the John E. Johns Football Endowed Scholarship or the John E. Johns History Endowed Scholarship c/o Furman University, 3300 Poinsett Hwy Greenville, SC 29613 or First Baptist Church, 847 Cleveland Street Greenville, SC 29601.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mackeycenturydrive.com for the Johns family.