Mayor Edward J. Johnson, Jr. is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and a product of that city’s public school system. He graduated from L.B. Landry High School in 1973 and obtained his post-secondary education from Dillard University of New Orleans graduating with a B.S. degree in Biology.
After graduating from Dillard University he was selected to attend the U.S. Navy’s Aviation Officers’ Candidate School and upon graduating was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy. He served in many capacities as a Navy Surface Warfare Officer obtaining the rank of Commander. He served in many positions culminating his twenty-two year navy career as Executive Officer onboard the USS Santa Barbara (AE-28) and eventually XO of the Georgia Tech / Morehouse College Navy ROTC Program. While in the U.S. Navy he attended the U.S. Naval War College and Salve Regina University obtaining two Master of Science Degrees. He has been awarded several U.S. Navy awards and personal commendations for his service while in the navy.
Prior to retiring from the U.S. Navy Edward answered the call from God to preach and serve in his army. He was ordained a Deacon in 1997 and after attending Turner Seminary at The Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, he was ordained an Itinerant Elder in the A.M.E. Church in 2000. He was assigned his first charge as Pastor of Mt. Carmel A.M.E. Church located in Sharpsburg, Georgia in 2000.
After successful leadership and exceptional spiritual growth of this congregation in three years, Edward was appointed as the Pastor of historic Flat Rock A.M.E. Church in Fayetteville, Georgia. As the shepherd of the flock at Flat Rock since 2003 Reverend Johnson has led the congregation into a period of renewed spiritual, numerical, and financial growth. The church is involved in a Prison Ministry, After-School Tutoring for elementary and middle school students, Homeless Outreach Ministry, and Senior Citizen outreach ministry in addition to caring for the members of the congregation.
Mayor Johnson has been extremely active in the Fayette County community serving as the President of the Fayette County NAACP for many years and is a catalyst in the effort to improve the fellowship between Fayette County churches, regardless of denomination or ethnicity. He was recently the first African American to be elected to hold a government office in Fayette County by his election as City Councilman for Fayetteville, Georgia in 2011. His tenure as City Councilman inspired him to want to serve in a greater leadership role, therefore he ran for Mayor in the 2015 Mayoral election and won.
Mayor Johnson has been blessed by God to have been joined in union for forty years to his wife Dr. Vanessa O. Johnson, who is a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander. He is the proud father of two sons Edwin (38) and Devan (33) both of whom graduated from Fayette County High School. Edwin graduated from the Morehouse College and Georgia Institute of Technology’s dual degree program with a Mechanical Engineering Degree; and Devan graduated cum laude from Georgia State University with a B.S degree in Business. Mayor Johnson is the proud grandfather to granddaughters Erin Janelle Johnson (9), Jamie Ciara Johnson (7) and Cayla Jenae Johnson (4).
Mayor Johnson’s most ardent desire is to lead the citizens of Fayetteville with integrity and insight, through “community activism and involvement!”