Zennie S. Johnson

Zennie Stepney Johnson was born in Monticello, Florida to the late Hannah Swan Stepney and Fred Stepney on July 25, 1918. On Tuesday, February 4, 2020, she peacefully passed away at age 101.

She moved to White Plains, NY in 1929 and graduated from the White Plains school system. Zennie attended Florida A&M University receiving her Bachelor of Science and Business Administration degree in 1943. She continued her post-graduate studies at La Salle University, SUNY Purchase, and the University of Connecticut studying stenography, economics, political science, and law for the modern woman. She worked for the United Nuclear Corporation as a records management librarian for 16 years when she decided to make a career change and began a new career as a business owner and opened ZJ's Deli in 1973 until closing in 2016. In 1958, Zennie became the protege of Lillian Sharpe Hunter and later became the founder of the Westchester Cotillion Committee, Inc. As the leader of the Westchester Cotillion Committee, she promoted and inspired higher education, charm, social and community protocol for thousands of African American females in the Tri State area with increased aspirations and scholarships for higher education with the last Crystal Ball in 2010.

Zennie held many prestigious appointments and honors with numerous awards as a resident of White Plains. These included: Certificates of Honor from Governor Nelson Rockefeller, Mayors Joseph Delfino, Michael Keating, and Alfred Del Vecchio; the Commissioner of Human Rights; the Distinguished Service Award; the White Plains Regional Chamber of Commerce award; recognized by the NAACP White Plains/Greenburgh Chapter; and in 1980, the Sojourner Truth Award.

Zennie was baptized by the late Rev. G.J. Williamson in 1933 at Bethel Baptist Church and was an active member attending church service regularly until she moved to Teaneck, NJ with her son and daughter in law in 2015.

Zennie is survived by her son, William Hayes and daughter in law Rev. Ella Lynk Hayes; Grandchildren Kimberly Hayes Scott (Raynard), Tracie Hayes (Thomas Knight); Great-grandchildren Jordan Scott, Morgan Scott, Jared Scott, George Randolph, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends