Gwen Bewley

Friday, March 24, 2023

Sorry I'm so late on this, Conye. I miss you so bad. I'll see you again.

Jerry Smith

Sunday, April 17, 2022

I just found this retirement tribute and thought it would be better held in this repository of Conye memories:

"Hi Regional Leaders!

"Well, I guess all good things come to an end. The Regional Leaders Program is a vibrant, unique and very worthy program because of Conye Johnson, and because of her it will live on.

"But she has retired - quietly, without any fanfare because that is the way she wanted it. She is using vacation time until her last official day on October 31.

"For 10 years her goal was always to make the RLP, and everyone's individual experience in it, special. My mother always told me, "if you're going to do something, do it right." For Conye it's, "if you're going to do something, make it special." And special to her means personal, meaningful, memorable, and if at all possible, fun. Guess who's idea it was to start doing the "Powerball"

"You know, It's just down-right hard to make regional programs warm and fuzzy, much less nurturing. You all are scattered all over and, for the most part, don't see each other before or after the RLP sessions. Through Conye's efforts to build a sense of community within each class, it IS a smaller world out there. As Conye is fond of saying, "once a Regional Leader, always a Regional Leader."

"Conye's impact on me personally and professionally has been profound, and of course I want her to stay but I have to respect her decision about retirement. (Not to be maudlin, but remember the loud, woeful cries of the little boy at the end of that old cowboy movie - "Shane... Shane... S h a n e!")

"She gave more than you'll ever know. She wouldn't want you to know. When on the rare occassion of someone knowing a special kindness is of Conye's doing, she always says, "you don't have to thank me - just pass it on." I talk about servant leadership; she lives it.

"So, in honor of Conye Johnson, pass it on!

"If you would like to speak with her, she is taking loving care of her old dogs and her bird, along with her professor husband, at their home near Jonesboro - 870-932-7844. If you would like to drop her a note, you can send it here and we'll see that she gets it.

"Until the next RLP session in your area, when I look forward to renewing the bond,

Jerry "

Renee Jeffery Smith

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

I had the honor of working with Conye at ASU. She was a great friend and will be missed by all. Condolences to the family. Renee Jeffery Smith

Angie Byrd

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

I am so sorry to hear of her passing. When I worked at the UPS store and then Safe Ship I looked forward to the times that she would come in to get her mail. We always had the best conversations and I will miss her dearly.

Patricia Mize Lambert

Sunday, May 9, 2021

Keith and Craig, I was so sorry to read about Conye in today's paper. My thoughts and prayers are with you two and family. I have thought about her and wondered where you two live now.

Jerry Smith

Saturday, May 8, 2021

For all who knew her, what I’m about to say is understood as, “uh huh, that’s Conye!” - she was one of the most special people God ever gave us, so unique in her loving, creative one-of-a kind kindnesses, and her thoughtfulness about the needs of others and what would make them feel special, we can say with a tear in our eye and a smile on our face that there will never be another Conye.

Her work with the ASU Regional Leaders Program and the Mid-South Delta Leaders program was very significant as her primary role was to create and direct brief activities at different interludes and transitions in the training agenda that she accurately called “memory anchors” that helped cement the training in the participants’ memory. It sure helped us all enjoy the session!

I know that as a community leadership trainer, the only thing that made me really distinctive was Conye’s contribution. I provided the content and she provided the fun.

I owe so much to Conye. She was incredibly faithful and committed to whatever cause I was pursuing. She was always about others; never about herself.

Join me, my fellow Conye friends, in a virtual group hug - the way she often had us do at the end of a session, with Louie Armstrong singing “What a Wonderful World” in the background - and celebrate the life and memories of Conye Johnson with a shout-out: “Conye! Conye! Conye!”

You’ll be dearly missed, Conye, 😢and fondly remembered. 🤣

Donald Hall

Friday, May 7, 2021

Conye was a great friend and will be missed