Mary Beavers Johnston

Mary Beavers Johnston passed away on Tuesday, August 23 at her residence. She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Bill Johnston, and her two daughters, Beth Johnston Hardy (Fred) and Jennie Johnston Gayden (Mac). She is also survived by her grandson Gavin Gayden (Catherine), great granddaughter, Rosie of Austin Texas, and granddaughters Angie Hardy (Jon Wooten) Erica Hardy (Branden Marlow), and Stephanie Hardy, and great grandchildren Josie and Miles Wooten, of Atlanta. Mary is also survived by her sister, Sara Manous (Hines) of Canton and brother-in-law Richard Johnston (Brenda Toan) of Atlanta, as well as many nieces and nephews, who she loved dearly.

Mary was a lifelong resident of Cherokee County. She graduated from Canton High School, attended Reinhardt College and was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson School of Law. She began her career as a legal secretary in Marietta. She met and married Bill Johnston and they moved to Athens while he attended Veterinary School. They moved back to Cherokee County where she became very active in community service. Mary was a member of The Way (formerly Woodstock United Methodist Church) where she served on numerous committees and volunteer positions. She was a member of the Service League of Cherokee County and served on the Cherokee County Library Board, Cherokee County Historical Society Board and the Reinhardt University Board of Advisors. In 2005 she was named Woodstock Citizen of the Year. She served many years on the Woodstock Parks and Recreation Committees and was an active member of Preservation Woodstock. She served as president of the Honeysuckle Garden Club. She loved to travel, read, attend monthly book club meetings and “Lunch Bunch” gatherings.

She will be remembered as a loving, caring person who was a friend to many. She will be greatly missed, but her legacy will continue.

A visitation for Mary will be held Saturday, August 27, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, followed by a funeral service at 1:00 PM.

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

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting you make donations in memory of Mary Beavers Johnston to History Cherokee, PO Box 1287, Canton, GA 30169 or online at

https://historycherokee.org/donate/