Mary Morris Johnson

Mary Morris Johnson, MD, 79, of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away on the 5th of March 2018 at Piedmont Hospital. Dr. Johnson was beloved by many and will be sorely missed. She was born in Buras, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, and was the fourth of five children born to the late Alice and Calvin M. Johnson, MD. Dr. Johnson grew up in New Orleans where she graduated from Isidora Newman High School in 1956 and from H. Sophie Newcomb College in 1960. Dr. Johnson went on to graduate from Emory University School of Medicine in 1976 and to complete her residency in the Department of Neurosurgery at Emory in 1980. After completing a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto in 1981, she practiced as a board-certified neurosurgeon in Atlanta. Entering the field at a time when women were just breaking through systematic exclusion from the profession of medicine in the United States, Dr. Johnson believed firmly in equal opportunity for women and was steadfast in fighting against discrimination she encountered as a physician. Along with her parents, Dr. Johnson was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Grover Ky Gaddis, her sister, Elenore Johnson, and her nephew Peter White. Dr. Johnson is survived by her siblings, Janet MacKenzie (husband Mike), Julia White (husband Peter), and Dr. Calvin Johnson (wife Mary Jo); and her children David O'Brien (wife Nayong), Derek O'Brien (wife Yoko), daughter Marcia O'Brien (husband John Liebl). Dr. Johnson was the loving grandmother of Fiona O'Brien, Devin O'Brien, Dillon O'Brien and Kyra Liebl. Dr. Johnson is also survived by stepchildren Kay Gaddis Lee (husband Britt), Cleve Gaddis (wife Michelle), and Greg Gaddis. Dr. Johnson was also loved by many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Dr. Johnson's life is being planned for April 21st at 10:00 am in New Orleans at the Carrollton United Methodist Church and her remains will be interred at Metairie Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Johnson's name can be made to St. Jude's Hospital. To share a memory or to offer condolences, please visit www.southcare.us/obituaries and search obituaries.