Yvonne Johnson, a longtime Greensboro City Council member and the city's first black mayor, passed away Wednesday. She was 82.

Yvonne Johnson took many titles and responsibilities during her time in Greensboro. She was the city’s first Black mayor from 2007 to 2009.

Beginning in 1993, Johnson was a Greensboro City Council member for 14 years, including a six year stint as Mayor Pro Tem. 

She worked with various organizations and nonprofits over her lifetime, serving as the executive director for One Step Further. It offers mediation and alternative court programs, helping Greensboro’s youth resolve conflicts.

Yvonne Johnson took many titles and responsibilities during her time in Greensboro. She was the city’s first Black mayor from 2007 to 2009. (Facebook)

Johnson graduated from Dudley High School before heading to Bennett College and North Carolina A&T State University. Setting precedent, she’d be the first Black woman in North Carolina to joint the Junior League, a platform for women to grow their leadership skills and make a community impact.

“It is an understatement to say that Yvonne was a pillar of this community," Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan said. "She served as a city council member for 14 years and as Mayor Pro-Tem for 6."

Vaughan said her death was unexpected.

"Yvonne being the person that she was, we all expected her to rally and to be at our next city council meeting,"  she said. "We are going to have to adjust to because she has had such a strong presence for decades and she is one of the few people that you can truly say is going to be greatly missed.”

"I’m deeply saddened by the passing of my good friend Yvonne Johnson, Greensboro’s first African-American mayor and a trailblazer who uplifted our community through her decades of public service," Rep. Kathy Manning said on social media.

Johnson’s family said even early on, she didn’t seek to be in politics. A local reverend motivated her to pursue what would later turn into her passion.

“Our family is immensely proud of her service and she was and still is a role model for her four kids and seven grandkids,” her daughter, Lisa Tonkins, said in a statement. “Her mantra was that service is the rent you pay for your time on earth. Mom’s rent has been paid up.”

The city has not yet confirmed the details for funeral arrangements.