JoAnn Johnson passed away on July 23, 2026 in Atlanta, GA.

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Her chair became more than a place to have your hair done. It was a place of trust, conversation, encouragement, and care.

JoAnn Johnson was born on January 4, 1954, in Paris, Texas, to Isaiah and Sarah Lee Yates. The sixth of twelve children, JoAnn was raised in Kansas City, Missouri.

JoAnn attended Phillis Wheatley and Woodland Elementary School and graduated from Manual High School in 1972. Determined to become a cosmetologist extraordinaire, she completed cosmetology training, earned her license, and worked under several experienced beauticians as she perfected her craft.

In the 1980s, JoAnn’s cosmetology career took off after Charles “Charlie” Parker offered her the opportunity to run and operate Hair Metrics Beauty Salon. A visionary with an eye for excellence, JoAnn helped establish Hair Metrics as one of Kansas City’s premier salons. The quality and precision of the hairstyles she created earned both JoAnn and Hair Metrics a reputation among the very best in the city.

With talent and an unmistakable personal touch, JoAnn devoted more than three decades of her life to styling the hair of some of Kansas City’s most beloved and respected educators, entrepreneurs, and executives. Her chair became more than a place to have your hair done. It was a place of trust, conversation, encouragement, and care. Through her skill, consistency, and genuine investment in the people she served, JoAnn built relationships that lasted far beyond an appointment.

She retired and relocated to Atlanta in 2011.

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JoAnn was deeply proud to be a mother and grandmother.

JoAnn was deeply proud to be a mother and grandmother. She did more than teach her children and grandchild the Word of God and biblical principles, she modeled them through the way she lived, loved, worked, gave, and cared for others. She inspired all of her descendants to be successful entrepreneurs as they modeled what they saw in her daily. All of her descendants have the same gentle spirit that she embodied. She was intentional about giving her family a beautiful life filled with love, care, faith, and adventure.

JoAnn found joy in taking care of people. In many ways, she seemed happiest when the people she loved were safe, supported, fed, encouraged, and moving forward.

Her love was something you could see, hear, and feel. It sounded like the birthday song she faithfully called to serenade her loved ones with each year. It could also be heard in the familiar mainstream songs she would rewrite with Christian lyrics, turning them into her own joyful expressions of praise and giving God the glory.

Her love looked like offering to help in any way she could and making you practically fight with her to accept anything in return. It could be found in the small details she remembered, the many sacrifices she quietly and selflessly made for others, and the homemade creations she made look effortless, from fresh-churned butter to her favorite fresh blueberry ice cream.

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Her love was something you could see, hear, and feel.

JoAnn was a woman who could do it all, but she never wanted to keep what she knew to herself. She freely shared, taught, and passed along what she had learned so others could do it also. Through her generosity, creativity, many gifts, and the way she lived and shared her faith, she made life better for the people around her.

Although her family deeply desired healing for her on this side of Heaven, they find comfort in knowing that she is no longer burdened by a body that had begun to limit the full life she still wanted to live. She is now at rest—whole, free, and with her favorite person: Jesus.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, Isaiah and Sarah Yates; three sisters, Mary Lou Williams, Maudie Sue Yates-Khalifah, and Suzette Yates-Davie; and two brothers, General Eugene Woods and Johnnie Henson.

She will be lovingly remembered by her three children, Saisha Beecham, Clay Johnson IV, and J’Nae Johnson-White; one grandchild, Shailah Crawford; best friend and godmother to her children, Marsha Dixson; three brothers, Isaiah Yates Jr. and Rickey Yates Sr. (Regina), both of Kansas City, Missouri, and James Yates of Paris, Texas; five sisters, Dr. Linda Williams (Bishop Charles), Barbara Ridley, Izeta Yates-Simpson, and Ira Yates, all of Kansas City, Missouri, and April Hill of San Diego, California; her extended Palmer, Haynes, McBrayer and Yates families; devoted friends; former clients; and the many people whose lives were made better because she was in them.

JoAnn leaves a legacy of love, strength, generosity, perseverance, excellence, and care. She did more than leave memories. She left pieces of herself in the people she loved: the strength to keep going, the instinct to care for others, the courage to do hard things, the willingness to share what you know, and the reminder that when something matters, you give it your best.

Her life will be treasured. Her love will still be felt. Her legacy will continue.