Introduction of Johnna Moon
It is with a grateful heart that I am privileged to introduce my friend and sister in Christ. Mrs Johnna Moon is a force, here on earth, for the cause of Jesus Christ. She has experienced suffering and tragedies that would take most of us out. But not Johnna, you see she was made for this. God knew she’d be able to stand as a witness to what faith in Jesus Christ can produce.
“Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow” and “Sunday’s coming” are two sayings I heard my friend, Johnna, quote countless times over the years. Sometimes they came up in conversations, other times she’d shout them out. They spilled out of her spirit because Johnna knew and expressed to all that her hope is in Jesus Christ.
She is beautiful in every way; inside and outside. She has been gifted with so many talents and believe me she uses them all. She is a writer, releasing her first book, “What If I Outlive My Child?” as a tool for parents who’ve lost children of all ages. In the midst of her deep pain she poured out her love on others who had walked or would walk her journey of losing a child. Why you might ask; because she was made for this. She sings, with a melodious soprano voice, to the glory of God! She is a prayer warrior, speaker and teacher. In each role she gives her best because she was made for this. She’s never too busy to listen to someone else’s struggle. When she tells you she’s going to pray about a situation; she often means right at that moment. She speaks with authority and being in her presence can move you to change.
In a worldly culture where people are looking to themselves for answers, Johnna reminds us that Jesus has everything we need! She is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and she lifts Him up everywhere she goes. This brief description of my friend should pique your interest. When I am in her presence I always want more. I am certain you’ll have a similar experience.
She is a wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend to many. And she is an open vessel ready to be used by God because He made her for this!
Valencia Adams
Bible Teacher and Friend
From MADD representative
Johnna, a true MADD mom, has been involved with MADD Georgia, participating in victim vigils, the Walk Like MADD, speaking on television on behalf of MADD, and helping other moms. She also has spoken on behalf of MADD and Timothy at Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University.
Johnna is a mom on a mission. It is not just to educate others on the dangers of impaired driving, but it is also to find hope on the grief journey. Her youngest child and only son, Timothy, was hit and killed by a car in Savannah, Georgia. Timothy and his friend, Christopher, college students at Savannah State University, were stopped on the side of the road changing a flat tire on the emergency lane of Veterans Parkway in Chatham County when they were hit.
Timothy was a 21-year-old Savannah State College student from Rockdale County. He graduated with honors from Heritage High School in Conyers, GA where he also played football. After high school, he chose to attend Savannah State University and chose to major in math, much to the surprise of his family. He was in his senior year of finishing up college at SSU, working part-time at the local WTOC, and preparing for his next milestone: graduation, when he was killed. Besides Johnna, he left behind his father and older sister.
The underage drunk driver ran from the scene. His blood alcohol concentration was 0.12 when he was caught and arrested by the Savannah-Chatham police. The drunk driver received 15 years to serve 10 for first degree vehicular homicide, serious injury by vehicle, failure to stop at the scene of an accident and driving under the influence. He only served 10 years and then was deported by ICE when he became eligible for release. Johnna stayed on top of the defendant’s time in prison, making sure he was not released early and that he was transferred to ICE upon release.
Johnna, a true MADD mom, has been involved with MADD Georgia, participating in victim vigils, the Walk Like MADD, speaking on television on behalf of MADD, and helping other moms. She also has spoken on behalf of MADD and Timothy at Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University.
Johnna began her healing journey by sharing her story of surviving the death of Timothy at the MADD Georgia Victim Impact Panel. She begins by explaining how her son overcame learning challenges as a child to become an excellent student in high school and college. She stresses the importance of his faith in God and how he was baptized as a child. She shares how exciting it was for her son to be at Savannah State. To make things even more impactful, she wears Timothy’s graduation robes, the robes he has never gotten to wear since he was killed weeks before graduation. Timothy was awarded a posthumous degree from Savannah State; his parents accepted it on his behalf.
Johnna worked for years to obtain the Timothy Cannon, Jr. The DUI memorial sign installed on the GA Hwy 208 entrance ramp to Veterans Parkway headed towards downtown Savannah on April 14, 2022. She had to fight for the sign because the crash happened mere feet from the “official” state highway designation on the part of Veterans Highway that is in the 2005 statue. Johnna was awarded the Georgia Victim Compensation Survivor Award for her strength, kindness, and perseverance to get the sign for Timothy. The award was presented during the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Ceremony hosted by Project Safe and Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) in Athens on April 27, 2022.
Johnna’s kind spirit and genuine compassion for all, including those that have made the choice to drink and drive, has made a huge impact on those she shares her story with. While I am saddened to meet Johnna under these circumstances, I am honored to know her.
Cynthia C. Hagain
Manager Victim Services & Grant Manager
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
