THE HOMETOWN MAVEN

Harriet Johnson, Martinsburg

Mayor of the City of Martinsburg

Mayor Johnson passed away shortly after her selection for this year’s class of Wonder Women. However, we still wanted to celebrate her beautiful life and honor her career and accomplishments. We spoke with the newly selected mayor—Kevin Knowles—about her life and legacy.

AN UNFORGETTABLE IMPACT

“Mayor Johnson was a lifelong resident of Martinsburg. She grew up in the city, she went to the city school, and there are still childhood friends here that she stayed close with throughout her whole life. She was bigger than life. She was very passionate about our downtown corridor and its revitalization. She served here for about a year, and we are going to continue to move forward with her vision to the best of our ability. She was taken from us too quickly. ”

cheerleader

“She put us on the map when it came to social media and the internet. Everything that Mayor Johnson did was very public. She publicized it well, and she was able to grow a great following for the city.”

COMMUNITY COMES FIRST

“I think what drove her is just the community itself. She held so many relationships here locally throughout her life, and she was determined to take Martinsburg in a positive direction and continue to guide that during her tenure. Just the fact that she was from Martinsburg drove her—anything she could do to highlight the positives here locally, that was her mantra.”

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER 2021 WEST VIRGINIA WONDER WOMEN

Learn more about our Wonder Women

Since 2014 WV Living magazine has been honoring West Virginia Wonder Women, amazing women who are raising the bar in their communities, serving as beacons of light in their industries, and forcing change for the greater good. WV Living is proud to celebrate these Appalachian mothers, millennials, and mavens proving that in a time full of uncertainty, divisiveness, and hate, love for one another is all we really need. No need for bulletproof bracelets or a golden lasso of truth—these women are creating a better West Virginia with their can-do attitudes and Mountain State spirit.