Jean Johnson Givens

Jean Johnson Givens, age 101, died peacefully June 1, 2015 at the home of her son, L. Michael Givens and his wife, Lois. She was born in DeKalb County, GA on February 22, 1914, the daughter of Daniel William Johnson and Julia Elsie Wagnon Johnson. She was raised on the old family home place on Oakdale Road in Druid Hills, the major property of which had been in her Johnson family since Civil War days.
She was educated in DeKalb County schools and was in the first class to graduate from Druid Hills High School. Jean attended Wesleyan College and then Emory University where she studied nursing. At Emory, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts Appreciation in 1940, Master of Science in Biology in 1942 and a Master of Nursing (in teaching) in 1962.
In an abundance of patriotic fervor, she abandoned plans for a PhD in Biology and instead earned an RN degree from St. Louis City Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis, MO, where she remained to teach nursing. It was in St. Louis that she married an old beau from Emory, Louis Mosby Givens, on his 3 day leave prior to shipping off to Europe.
Jean was a loving, nurturing, and born educator. She taught nursery school as a young woman and mother, and nursing at St. Joseph's and Piedmont Hospital School of Nursing, followed by her dream job, teaching Biology at Georgia State University for 8 years.
Jean's love of gardening and broad knowledge of horticulture were renowned. She was a skilled lecturer before various garden clubs and plant society groups, and to landscape design students at Georgia State University. Her specialties were herbs and perennial plants, but she included broad horticultural topics as well authoring a horticulture column in the Garden Club of Georgia's publication. Mrs. Givens also wrote articles on gardens in "Gardening in Georgia". Under GCG auspices Jean recorded several videos and participated in many others.
An accomplished author, she wrote several books and collaborated on others. She joined the Lullwater Garden Club in 1959 and served as its president, as well as president of DeKalb Federation of Garden Clubs and the Garden Center of Greater Atlanta. She also belonged to Designer Study Club. Jean was a master flower show judge. Her poetry was published in various college literary publications, but she is best known for the herb-themed seasonal poems she sent for many years for Christmas cards.
A marvelous cook, she contributed recipes and helpful hints to the Garden Club of Georgia, other garden club cook books and other publications. Jean was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader, a Sunday school teacher, a nature counselor for many years at a children's camp in Brevard, NC and a Master Gardener since the first class in 1979.
She was a member of Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church. Jean was elected to Beta Beta Beta, an honorary fraternity for biological research. She was recipient of the Wesleyan College Alumni award for outstanding service. Most recently, the Garden Club of Georgia created a scholarship in her name.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Mosby Givens and by her brothers, Col. Daniel W. Johnson (ret.) and Charles Wade Johnson and their wives, and her son-in-law, Thomas Michael Goecke. She is survived by her three children, Julianne Givens Goecke, Louis Michael Givens and his wife, Lois and Dan Johnson Givens and his wife, Bertie. Also 6 granddaughters: Jeannie Goecke Nicol and her husband, Murray with their children, Boyd and Jean O'Neal Nicol; LeEllen Givens DeVries and her husband, Darren with their children, Caedmon, Liana and Raewynn DeVries; Deborah Givens; Julia Givens Freeland; Emily Givens Swindall and her husband, Philip; and Laura Givens Ludwig and her husband, Daniel. She is also survived by a dear cousin, Evanlee Daum and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held in the chapel of A. S. Turner and Sons, 2773 N. Decatur Rd, Decatur, GA on Thursday, June 4, 2015 at 3:00 PM. Visitations will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 from 4 to 7 PM and one hour prior to the ceremony on Thursday, beginning at 2 PM.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made either to the Garden Club of Georgia Inc., for the Jean Johnson Givens Scholarship Fund at 2450 South Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30602, or to the DeKalb Federation of Garden Clubs.
A. S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory.


Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033