Meet Sue Johnson, known as “Sweet Sue” to her churchgoing family and friends, who celebrated her 99th birthday on July 22. Sue is a long-time McDonough resident and a member of the McDonough Church of Christ. She is the mother of three, the stepmother of two, the grandmother of nine and great-grandmother of 10. Too many others to mention call her Granny Sue.

Sue’s residence is tucked away in a quiet back corner of her McDonough neighborhood, where she fills her little corner of the world with colorful zinnias, roses and different and beautiful varieties of hydrangeas. Sweet Sue is known for sharing her kindness through her flower seeds and clippings.

“Gardening is her passion, but sharing her growing secrets and seeds with others is her loving gift,” said her daughter Teresa Pettite.

For many years, Sue has collected her zinnia seeds at the end of the season and given them to her friends and family. In mid-May, she starts to prepare her beds and plant her last year’s harvest of seeds to create a miraculous bed of color which she loves to share with everyone.

“We are all blessed to have shared her life and now her 99th birthday as well as her gardens’ beauty,” said Teresa. “Each bloom is special to her and holds a place near and dear to her heart.”