Lorretta Johnson-Morgan
Lorretta Johnson-Morgan
DOB: 11/8/64 - 60 yrs. old
Lorretta’s family has lived for generations in Fluvanna, initially in Columbia but later residing in other Fluvanna communities; she currently lives in Troy. Lorretta describes a happy childhood, surrounded by a large family which included one sister, three brothers and first cousins all living in the same house. Her father, Robert Lee Johnson, Sr. and her mother is Mayme Palmer Johnson. Lorretta was a tomboy as a child, but very shy. She is married to Christopher Morgan from Christianburg, VA, and the couple has one adult daughter, Sasha Morgan.
As storytelling was not part of her family’s tradition, Lorretta says she knows little about her ancestry. Columbia Baptist Church, built in 1870 and where she is a member, might have been able to fill in the gaps, but it lost its records in a fire years ago.
Lorretta attended public school in Fluvanna. An honor roll student, she was also an athlete, playing softball, basketball and volleyball. Lorretta’s family did not have the funds to send her to college, so after high school, she entered the world of work. She held various positions with Fluvanna’s county government, including the treasurer’s office and clerk’s office. While working full-time, she was able to pay her way through National Business College, obtaining a degree in Computer Applications Management/Science.
Lorretta then began a 35-year career working for various departments at the University of Virginia. Her experience as a computer applications engineer included developing the first website for the School of Continuing and Professional Studies and working in the Information Technology Department. When she retired from the university, she used her experiences and networks to establish her own event planning business, organizing such large events as weddings and fundraisers for community groups. She has built an excellent reputation, thanks to her expertise.
Lorretta is dedicated to community service. She initiated contact with the Fluvanna Sheriff’s Office to start an effort for gathering relief supplies for people in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. That led Lorretta to volunteer to organize other community initiatives for the Sheriff’s Department, including the Senior TRIAD Program (under the auspices of the Virginia Attorney General), a crime prevention program for the elderly. She is also the marketing director and board member for Fluvanna Leadership for Race and Diversity, a nonprofit that fosters racial diversity and seeks to reduce racial inequities in Fluvanna.
Lorretta found time to participate in the Fluvanna Leadership Development Program, which led to her becoming a member of the county’s Economic Development Authority. Two years ago, she was selected to be a member of Fluvanna’s Planning Commission.
Even though beginning as a shy child, Loretta has used her many life and work experiences to build networks and skills. As a result, she has become a self-confident community leader. She is assertive, urging others to join her in volunteering for worthy events she is spearheading. She loves helping people, but says with a smile, “Just don’t make me mad.”