Sue Johnson

Sue Johnson, 67 of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, passed away on Thursday, November 21, 2024. 

Born on August 5, 1957, in Greenwood, SC, Sue was a daughter of the late Jeanette Johnson (Lynch) and Wellsman Johnson.

Sue attended Cambridge Academy from 5 th -12 th grade and furthered her education at Lander College where she earned a BS degree in Accounting. After graduation, Sue worked at Bankers Trust of South Carolina in Columbia. She worked there for several years before moving to Mt. Pleasant, SC where she began working with Hawthorne Aviation. She served as the Chief Financial Officer working directly for the owner and CEO Mr. Vernon Strickland. Sue was instrumental in the many successes of the company as it rapidly grew in the aviation support industry. In 2005, together with a partner (Bruce Stoehr) at the firm, Sue engineered the purchase of Hawthorne Services which was a small government contracting subsidiary of Hawthorne Aviation. That action proved to be a success as Hawthorne Services enjoyed rapid, profitable growth primarily serving Department of Defense aviation operations. Hawthorne Services had over 400 terrific employees, all of whom were well acquainted with Sue. As Partner and Executive Vice President, Sue managed the financial side of things to great effect. In 2012, Sue signaled, in her own unique way, that it may be a good time to sell the company. This proved to be a good idea as the firm was sold successfully and Sue and her partner were able to comfortably enter their retirement time of life. During her retirement, she enjoyed spending time at Edisto with her dog, Stewart. Sue passed away in her Mt. Pleasant home after a short illness.

Sue is preceded in death by Wellsman Johnson (Father), Jeanette Johnson (Mother), and David Johnson (Brother).

Sue is survived by Linn Johnson (Sister), Marc Johnson (Brother), and Henry Johnson (Brother).

Details of the Celebration of Life Ceremony will be posted online with McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation in January 2025.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cambridge Academy 103 Eastman St Greenwood, SC 29649, Birds of Prey Foundation https://www.birds-of-prey.org/donate Or to Edisto Beach Loggerhead Turtle Project https://edistobeachseaturtles.com

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.mcalister-smith.com

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation ~ Mount Pleasant, 1520 Rifle Range Rd, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464, (843) 884-3833.