Eunice W. Johnson, wife of the late John. H. Johnson, founder of Johnson Publishing Company and creator of the Ebony Fashion Fair, died on Sunday, Jan. 3.
Mrs. Johnson served as the secretary and treasurer of Johnson Publishing Company, and with her husband developed Ebony Jet and Negro Digest, a network of Black magazines, into the most influential and leading publications created by and geared to the African-American community.
She also produced and directed the Ebony Fashion Fair Show, the world’s largest traveling fashion and cosmetics show since its inception in 1961. Under her leadership, mainstream and emerging Black designers were brought to audiences in over 180 cities in the United States, Canada and Caribbean, putting on an estimated 4,000 performances and raising over $55 million for various charities.
It has always been considered an honor and a privilege to participate in the fashion extravaganza. Supermodels such as Iman, Naomi Campbell, Beverly Johnson and Tyra Banks have strutted down the Fashion Fair runway, as well as actor Richard Roundtree.
In recognition for her dedication to community service, Mrs. Johnson received a plethora of awards from various charities, including The Boys & Girls Club of Chicago, The United Negro College Fund and Loyola University, among many others.
Eunice W. Johnson was 93.
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