Thelma Eloise German-Johnson

is honored with a Brick from Susan K. Leiker

Thelma arrived in Louisville, Kentucky in 1999 to join Norton Healthcare, Inc. as a Human Resources Director. In May 2000 she joined Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCF) where she served as the Kentucky Area Human Resources Manager. Prior to her Kentucky experiences she was with the City of Wichita in Human Resources, Riveside Hospital, Bank IV of Wichita, Kansas and the Mayo Medical Center in Tochester, Minnesota.

Thelma has served on a number of boards including Rainbow United, Inc., Wichita Municipal Credit Union. She also served on the Executive Board of the Wichita Youth Home, Executive Board of the Wichita United Way Allocations Chairperson, and Human Resource and Benefits Committee. She also served as President of the National Conference of Christians and Jews and was a certified trainer on diversity in the workplace for four years. Thelma also served as President of the Wichita Chapter of the Society of Human Resource managers as well as a Director of the Kansas State Council of the Society of Human Resources Management. Other organizations include the Wichita Black Achievers program and the Wichita Council of Girl Scouts. She has been a presenter at a number of conferences including The National Association of Credit Managers, Society of Human Resources Management. Other organizations include the Wichita Black Achievers program and the Wichita Council of Girl Scouts. She has been a presenter a number of conferences including The National Association of Credit Managers, Society of Human Resource Managers State Management Conference, The Urban League Biennial Workforce Institute, Commission on the Status of Women Working Women's Conference and the Louisville National council of Negro Women, Inc. to name a few. She is also a graduate of leadership Wichita sponsored by the Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce. In 1991 she was awarded outstanding Young Women of America.

In April 1997 she was initiated into the Wichita Alumnae Graduate Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and she was an active member of the Louisville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Those who met Thelma know that she never met a stranger. She was a source of guidance, encouragement, and a positive inspiration. She set high expectations for herself and whether acknowledging the successes of others or coping with a challenging situation, Thelma would often say, "I ain't mad at you." She thrived on shopping, collecting ink pens, elephants, nick-knacks and making phone calls to her friends at unusual times of the day. She enjoyed reading, musing, sewing and dancing the electric slide.

Those who cherish her memory are her husband: Charles R. Hohnson of Louisville, Kentuckey; daughter: Carrie L. Haynes of Wichita, Kansas; son: Herman R. A. Haynes of Jacksonville, North Carolina; parents: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. German Jr. of Bessemer, Alabama; James D. (Carolyn) of Bardstown, Kentucky; sisters: Thomasene German of Wichita, Kansas; Rhonda G. Randall of Tarcliff, Kentucky; mother-in-law: Elsie (james) Woods of Wichita, Kansas; and a host of nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts, other relatives and friends.