Jennifer Johnson

2024 Servant's Heart Award Winner

As the retail director for Ballad Health, Jennifer Johnson is an unsung hero. In her official role, she manages the gift shop at Johnson City Medical Center and works with the hospital volunteers. She never talks about what she does for others, but the good deeds she performs for those in need have been numerous. Her compassion for others is evident in her job, as well as at home and in the community. 

Jennifer, a single mom, was very active with the athletic teams at Elizabethton High School. When her son played sports there, she cooked for all the players and coaches each week. She also worked the concession stands, raising money for the school. 

When she learned one of the boys on the team wasn’t getting enough to eat and didn’t have decent clothing, she invited him into her home for meals and sent food to him. She collected all the clothing her son had grown out of and passed it along to that boy or other children. 

And that’s just the beginning of what Jennifer is all about. 

• For years, a homeless woman lived on a park bench in Elizabethton. When Jennifer owned a catering business, she would provide free meals to the woman. 
• Providing for the homeless continues to this day for Jennifer. While at lunch with co-workers, she noticed a man sitting on the curb and went back and purchased a sandwich and drink for him.
• For years, Jennifer attended First Christian Church in Johnson City. She was on a limited budget, so as her tithe, she cooked Wednesday night meals for the congregation. Many assumed she was on the church staff. 

Jennifer takes good care of Johnson City Medical Center’s gift shop volunteers and her team members. Here are only a few examples: 

• When one of her team members was deployed to the Middle East for a year, Jennifer gathered puzzles, books and food and regularly sent him care packages to provide diversions and ease his homesickness. 
• Another team member asked her to arrange her wedding. “Arrange” turned into cooking for the rehearsal dinner, assembling all decorations, directing the wedding and serving as matron of honor. The co-worker lived two hours away from Jennifer’s home. 
• One of her vendors who lives in Kentucky was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was experiencing deep depression. Jennifer took a PTO day, made a dessert the lady loved and went to visit her in Kentucky. 

Jennifer has personally been challenged with some adversity of her own, as she helps take care of her aging parents, including one with serious health issues who requires extensive assistance. 

But Jennifer constantly represents Ballad Health’s values in a positive way. She displays the heart of a servant on a daily basis, as her actions speak louder than words.