Mrs. Yvonne Johnson Penland, age 96, passed away on Monday, April 4 at Northwest Medical Center. Yvonne was born on December 30, 1925 in Pine Log to the late James Littleberry Johnson and Elise Bradford Johnson. They welcomed Yvonne's younger siblings, Betty Johnson and Jimmy Johnson into the family a few years later. The family moved from Pine Log to Bradenton, Florida to Akron, Ohio to Atlanta, Georgia, then settling in Ellijay.

Yvonne graduated from Ellijay High School in 1943, and attended college at Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville, Georgia. In July 1948, Yvonne married Samuel Oscar Penland, Jr. They had four children: Samuel Oscar Penland III, Susan Penland Myers, Elisa Penland Templeton, and a baby boy, Charles Cooper Penland, who passed away at birth.

Yvonne was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Ellijay for almost 70 years, where she helped in the nursery, with GA's, WMU, and the bereavement committee to name a few. She was hardworking and generous with her time, volunteering and chaperoning on numerous class trips, band trips and in the classroom. She was selfless and generous with her family as well, and her children and grandchildren never had any lack of food, fun or laughter while in her presence.

Yvonne is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, S.O. Penland; son, Charles Cooper Penland; brother, Jimmy Johnson; and great-grandson, Owen Christopher Manley.

Yvonne has left behind a beautiful legacy of family that will always remember her as a loving mama, grandmama, great-grandmama. She is survived by her sister, Betty Johnson; and by her children, Sam and Marcie Penland, Susan and G.T. Myers, Elisa and Alan Templeton; by her grandchildren, Trent and Kate Myers, Nicole and Jeremiah Bond, Elizabeth and Chris Manley, Tiffany and Dre Weaver, Samuel Penland, Sarah Templeton and Mike Schmitt, and Parker and Emily Templeton; by her great-grandchildren, Elise and Audrey Myers, Cohutta Bond, Hannah, Ruby, Cooper, and Elliot Manley, and Presley Boyle.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 1 PM at the First Baptist Church with Pastor Josh Moyers and Rev. James Holt officiating. Pallbearers include: Trent Myers, Jeremiah Bond, Dre Weaver, Chris Manley, Samuel Penland, Parker Templeton and Mike Schmitt.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 9, 2022 from 10 AM until 12 PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, Yvonne's family respectfully asks that donations be made to the First Baptist Church Weekday Education Center or the Gideon Foundation.

Bernhardt Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.