Sondra Johnson

Sondra Ann Johnson, 85 of Atlanta, GA passed away on July 28, 2025, in her home surrounded by loving family.



Sondra was born on September 14, 1939, in Waterville, KS to Charles G. and Marjorie H. (Arganbright) Steele, Jr. She graduated from Waterville High School in 1957 and graduated from the University of Kansas in Lawrence with an Education degree in 1961. One of Sondra's fondest memories was during her summers at KU, staying at her cousins in St. Louis and waiting tables at a steak house across the street from her uncle's veterinary hospital.



Sondra married Jack Edwin Johnson September 5, 1964. They met via mutual friends while she was teaching elementary school in Milwaukee, WI and Jack was an officer in the Navy. After their wedding and the Navy, they moved to Evanston IL, where their daughter Jennifer Johnson Rinck was born and then moved to Fort Wayne, IN where Michael Steele Johnson was born. They moved to Chevy Chase, MD where they lived for over 38 years. Sondra and Jack were very active Members of Christ Church Georgetown where Sondra served on the Vestry, was head of the Women's Committee and served on the Altar Guild. Besides her volunteer activities with the church, Sondra provided an assortment of her baked goods to a shop in Georgetown, "A Piece of Cake" for several years.



Many dear and close friends were formed over the years that Sondra and Jack spent in Chevy Chase. In later years, they split their time between Chevy Chase and Duck, NC eventually residing full time in Atlanta.



Sondra's family have many cherished memories of the impact she had on their lives. Carrie remembers Sondra's attention to detail in her entertaining and especially how Sondra taught her how to make Sondra's mother's English toffee which has become a Christmas tradition. Natalie has fond memories of how Gran and Papa took the grandkids to Kansas when they were growing up to meet so many family members and visit places that were special to her. "She really valued relationships-especially with family and wanted everyone to know each other." Sam reminded us all of Sondra's infamous "grocery fund" which somehow or other would accumulate enough cash flow to indulge one of us to a special treat. Her nephew, Benton recalls that, "Aunt Sondra gave the warmest hugs and she always smelled so good," thanks to her favorite perfume, Opium.



Sondra will be remembered for many things because she had countless interests, including being an avid reader. You can learn a lot about a person by just looking at the books that are on their bookshelves. For instance, Sondra's bookshelves included books on travel - representing just some of the places that she and Jack visited on their many travels around the country and the world. Ben attributes his love for history and the world around him to his Gran. "Gran always planned our travels to places that would open my eyes to new and exciting experiences. She encouraged me to take risks, try new things and she made learning fun and meaningful." On these bookshelves you would also find books on art exhibits, events and museums - which demonstrated a diverse reflection of her love for learning. There wouldn't be as many current novels on her shelves because if she read a good book, she usually passed it on to someone she thought might enjoy it. Sarah Grace remembers, "Gran always let us pick out a book from the Duck bookstore every summer when we visited at the beach and then she would inscribe the inside cover," But let's not forget about the many books on baking and entertaining, especially from her icon, Ina Garten. Sondra came naturally by her talent for entertaining and baking from her Mother, who was the go-to host for family reunions, dinner parties, Sunday dinners and even the occasional farm workers.



This quote from Ina Garten sums up Sondra's motivation for entertaining, "It doesn't really matter what the occasion is-big or small-but it's the connections that we have with people that nourish our souls. Entertaining isn't just about making dinner parties. It's about celebrating those connections, and I think that's what makes life worth living." And Sondra lived her life big, generously, and unapologetically - freely giving of herself to anyone who knew her. She will be most remembered for her outgoing and friendly personality. She made honest connections and conversations, from family and friends to the casual person she met in everyday life. Everyone was better for having known her and the connections she made with everyone who knew her. Sondra embodied this final quote from Ina Garten, "The food our mothers made may not be what we are nostalgic for. It's more an emotional picture of a mother who was always there, knew what we needed, loved us and let us run free when we wanted to explore."



Survivors include her husband Jack of Atlanta, Georgia and her two children Jennifer (Todd) Rinck of Atlanta, Georgia and Michael (Carrie) Johnson of Raleigh, North Carolina, five grandchildren - Claire and Natalie Rinck of Atlanta, and Sam, Ben and Sarah Grace Johnson of Raleigh, North Carolina and her two sisters Rosalie (George, dec.) Short of Fort Collins, Colorado and Lynette (Rick) Coon of Waterville, Kansas, and nine nieces and nephews.



Preceding Sondra in death are her parents and brother, Charles Guy (Treva) Steele,III.



A memorial service for Sondra will be held in Washington, D. C. at Christ Church, Georgetown on October 17, 2025 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made out to the KU Foundation Memorials, https://kuendowment.org/ways-to-give/memorials/ or Hospice Foundation of America, https://hospicefoundation.org/donate