Mary Jon Johnston Branch

Mary Jon Johnston Branch, 88, of Athens, GA passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.  Born on March 4, 1935 in Statesboro, GA, she was the daughter of the late Grady Kimball Johnston and Dorothy Lane Johnston.

Raised in Statesboro, she attended Statesboro High, where she was involved in many activities and graduated in the class of 1953. She continued her education at Marjorie Webster Junior College in Washington, D.C. before returning to her home state of Georgia and enrolling in the University of Georgia where she was a member of Chi Omega. While at UGA, she met and married her beloved husband of 47 years, Connie F. Branch. She graduated from UGA with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.

Mary Jon was preceded in death by her husband Connie F. Branch and her brothers Grady Kimball Johnston, Jr. and James Lane Johnston. She is survived by her daughters, Clara Elizabeth “Bunnie” Branch Padgett and Mary Lane Branch Todd (Danny) and her grandchildren, Cassandra Merritt (Josh), James Padgett, Robert Padgett, William Padgett, and Dorothy Todd.

She was an active member of the United Methodist Women and Circle 6 at Athens First United Methodist Church, Glenwood Garden Club, several Athens bridge groups, Athens Road Runners Travel group, and she spent many hours assisting her late husband in his insurance office. She enjoyed needlepointing and created many treasures for family and friends. An avid football fan, she cheered on the Georgia Bulldogs and spent many Saturdays in Sanford Stadium. She even traveled to California to see the Bulldogs win the 2022 National Championship! She enjoyed traveling the world and was also an accomplished pianist who especially enjoyed entertaining friends at Christmas parties. Growing up in Statesboro, she fell in love with nearby Tybee Island and spent many summers enjoying the coast with her family and friends at her beach home. She was a much-loved wife, mother, and grandmother who loved her family fiercely and lived her life to the fullest. She will be greatly missed by so many.

The family would like to thank JoQuana Mapp for her care and love of Mary Jon in the past year.

Visitation will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at Athens First United Methodist Church in the John Wesley Parlor. The funeral service will be at 3:00 pm on Sunday, June 4, 2023 in the Sanctuary at Athens First United Methodist Church. A brief graveside service will follow at the Branch Family Historic Cemetery in Bishop, GA.

Flowers are welcome or memorial gifts may be made to Athens First United Methodist Church (https://athensfirstumc.org) or the Athens Area Humane Society (https://athenshumanesociety.org/).

Lord & Stephens Funeral Home West of Athens is in charge of arrangements.