MARTINSBURG, W.Va. –With an honor guard standing watch over the funeral chapel, family, friends, and colleagues gathered in Martinsburg Wednesday to remember Martinsburg Mayor Harriet Johnson, who passed away last week at the age of 71.
A common thread that was shared at the ceremony was how much Johnson loved Martinsburg, how she could be seen cheerleading for her hometown and at ribbon cuttings and events.
For example, Johnson was frequently seen taking pictures. Boys and Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle Executive Director Stacy Rohn said Johnson showed up to lend support.
“Quietly, she and (the mayor’s husband) Tom would always get snacks for our kids in our summer program. We would provide breakfast and lunch, but we were starting to notice that our kids were really tired at the end of a long day and needed a little snack. And she would just appear with snacks for the kids. If it was something she knew I needed in the community, she was great about connecting us with … some of the businesses downtown that could help us,” Rohn said.
Martinsburg Union Rescue Mission Superintendent Rev. Tim Guerino said when he first took on the post at the downtown mission, he had heard Martinsburg had its challenges.
“She flipped the script,” Guerino said during the funeral Wednesday. “She put others first. It was about putting others first in the city that she loved.”
A procession through downtown Martinsburg followed the funeral.
The work to find someone to fill the remainder of the mayor’s term continues. Interested candidates have until Friday to put their names in for consideration. Martinsburg City Council meets next Wednesday to discuss and appoint an individual to fulfill the unexpired three (3) year mayoral term.
The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m.
Johnson served for just more than a year as mayor. She was a member of city council several years before. She suffered a heart attack last week and died a few days at a Virginia hospital.