Martha (Marty) French Johnston

Family and friends of Floyd Monroe Johnston, Jr. and his wife, Martha Ann French Johnston, of Atlanta are invited to attend their inurnment service at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia at 1:00 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2018, the date of their 60th wedding anniversary. Floyd, a graduate of Texas A&M University (Gig ‘em Aggies) and a veteran of the U. S. Army, proudly served his country during the Korean Conflict. Martha, a homemaker, met her husband on a flight while they were both working for Eastern Airlines. A. S. Turner & Sons, Decatur, GA. Martha Ann French Johnston (Marty/Dayma), 85, of Atlanta, wife of the late Floyd M. Johnston, Jr., a retired Eastern Airlines Captain, passed away suddenly and peacefully at her home on Christmas Day. Marty was born in Mt. Carmel, Illinois on May 16, 1932 but she always called New Orleans her home. She was working as an Eastern Airlines Stewardess when she met Floyd on a flight en-route from New Orleans to Houston. They married in 1958 and built a loving life together for 54 years until Floyd’s death in 2012. Floyd and Marty moved from New Orleans to Decatur with their two daughters in 1964 and then to Atlanta in the late 1960’s.


Marty was the strong stay at home presence in raising their two children while Floyd continued his career with Eastern. With her outgoing personality, Marty never met a stranger and developed numerous longstanding friendships in the Atlanta area. She was active in her community as a co-leader for her daughter’s Brownie troop, a volunteer in her girls’ schools and a poll worker during local elections. Marty was also a volunteer with the American Red Cross and a hospital volunteer at, what was then, Shallowford Hospital.

She enjoyed traveling, sewing, knitting, cooking, soaking up the sun and spending time with her two daughters. When she became “Dayma,” she couldn’t wait to tell you about her grandchildren and then was beyond proud when they began having children of their own. Dayma recently spent part of the Christmas season with both of her daughters and also with all of her grandchildren and her great-grands.

Marty is survived by her daughters Jeri Ann Herman (Dave) and Jan Johnston Bray (Jeff); grandchildren Brandon (Meghan), Jordan (Serina) and Spencer (Austin); and, great-grandchildren Jackson, Mason, Brady, Emma and Charleigh. Her first grandchild, Christopher, preceded her in death.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:30 pm Sunday, January 7, 2018, at A.S. Turner & Sons Chapel (to sign the online guest book please visit www.asturner.com) in Decatur with visitation for family and friends at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a memorial contribution in Marty’s name to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org), a charity that was near and dear to her heart and one that has taken on even more importance to her daughters and family. A.S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory.