Eunice W. Johnson, 93, fashion maven and widow of Ebony magazine founder John Johnson, has died. Johnson has left an indelible mark on the fashion world by directing and producing the charitable traveling runway show (since 1961), Ebony Fashion Fair, featuring black designers and models in nearly 200 cities.
A spokesperson for Chicago-based Johnson Publishing Co. Inc., Wendy Parks, said Johnson died Sunday, Jan. 3, of renal failure at her Chicago home.
Johnson, an Alabama native, held posts as treasurer and secretary at Johnson Publishing Co. Inc., which she co-founded with her husband, and was credited with naming Ebony magazine, one of the longest-running magazines catering to blacks, along with Jet. Together, the Johnsons created the cosmetics line, Fashion Fair Cosmetics, which was designed specifically for women of color. The cosmetic line is still available in stores today.
In a statement to the press, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley called Johnson “a wonderful mother, faithful wife and business partner and an extraordinary Chicagoan who gave liberally of her time and finances both locally and abroad.”
Johnson is survived by her daughter, Linda Johnson Rice, the current CEO of Johnson Publishing. –gerald radford
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