Mrs. Mary Elaine “Lainie” Johnson: Obituary

Mary Elaine “Lainie” Johnson, age 62, died peacefully in her sleep at her home on June 1st 2016 after a short but intense experience with pancreatic cancer.

Lainie was born in Habersham County but lived in many places as a child as her father was in the Air Force. Being the eldest of four children, she helped raise her siblings, Tony, Terry, & Shane. Her mother & father, Mary & Arnold Adams, moved their family to Guam, Massachusetts, Colorado, & Washington state, before returning to Habersham County where Lainie graduated high-school. She went on to attend Gainesville Junior College & graduated with an associate’s degree in Fashion Marketing.

In 1977, she met Stan Johnson, and sang with him in their rock band, Yonah. In 1978, they were married atop Yonah Mountain, and they went on to raise two children, Nikhoma & John on the Johnson family farm in Hortonsville, outside of Helen.

She worked for Orbit Manufacturing in Helen in the marketing and sample department, and when Orbit closed she worked for many years as a waitress at Cafe International in Helen. For a few years she also owned a restaurant, The Goofy Rooster, with her husband and more recently they reopened that restaurant as Downda Earth Cafe.

She made many friends working at Cafe International with many long-time customers asking exclusively for Lainie to be their waitress. She also was the heart and soul of the two restaurants she owned, making delicious and healthy food to go with the wonderful atmosphere Stan created. She had an extremely kind and gentle nature, and a humble and understanding way about her. She loved flowers and plants of all kinds. She loved hiking, swimming, and also was a big fan of music, attending many concerts with her family. She was an artist who loved to paint & write, collecting many uplifting quotes & inspirational words. She always kept in touch with her loved ones through kind cards and notes, taking time to remember everyone in her life, thoughtful in every word she wrote.