Susan Henri Johnson McClees, age 75, died peacefully Monday the 22 of July 2024 accompanied by family and friends. Inspired by prayerful faith, she ministered to others as a member of All Saints Anglican Church in Newport, North Carolina. After a battle with cancer, she passed away in Charlotte, NC, with her loving nephew, William Walker Johnson at her side.
Born Susan Henri Johnson in Greenville, N.C., she was the daughter of Ferdinand Badger Johnson, Jr. and Jean McCaig Johnson. She grew up with a loving family of parents and siblings. She is survived by her loving sister, Esther Badger Johnson of Ashburn, Virginia and brother, William McCaig “Mac” Johnson (Laura Barrett) of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Henri was preceded in death by her loving husband, Joseph Daniels McClees of Oriental, NC. Her beloved brother, Col. F. Badger Johnson III (Bonnie Morrell, Cornelius, NC) also preceded her in death, during active service in the US Air Force. Her surviving dear sister-in-law, Bonnie (Chuck Morrell) helped to surround Henri with loving care.
She is survived also by her devoted nephew, William Walker Johnson, his wife, Megan Johnson and their dear children, Elizabeth, Emily, Henry and Hannah., of Charlotte, NC. She is mourned also by her beloved nephews, Badger Baldwin Johnson of Athens, Ohio and Murray McCaig Johnson (Kimberly Braunthal) of New York City.
Henri attended Rose High School in Greenville, then Laurinburg High School, both in North Carolina. She then attended St. Andrews Presbyterian College where her father served. She graduated from the University of North Carolina (UNC, Phi Beta Kappa) in Chapel Hill. Henri then graduated from UNC law school, attaining her Juris Doctor degree and practiced law in Eastern North Carolina.
She first met Joe McClees in 1979 and they were married in December 1980. On October 11, 1985, Henri attended a legal conference where she was saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit. Henri joined McClees Consulting in 2000. Henri and her husband Joe built a lobbying business, McClees Consulting, working in the NC General Assembly, other southern legislatures and the US Congress. She continued to work with Joe as a full partner in all parts of their lives to until his retirement in 2021 and subsequent death in 2022.
Their advocacy for coastal-aquaculture small businesses is a story resounding among family and friends of God’s abundant love-in-action. Testimonies of Henri’s ministries, of accompanying others and writing as a lay leader, are a poignant consolation to companions in her social circles.
The friends and community of the McClees and Johnson family are invited to attend a memorial service for Henri to be held at All Saints Anglican Church, 292 McCabe Rd., Newport, NC 28570 at 4:00 pm on Sunday, July 28, 2024. A reception will follow this service at this location.
Her graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 29, 2024, at Oriental Cemetery.
Memorial donations can be made c/o Rev. David B. Linka, Pastor in support of the ministries of All Saints Anglican Church, 292 McCabe Rd., Newport, NC 28570.