Karen Johnson

Legacy Building

Karen Johnson, MBA Nashville-Davidson County Register of Deeds

By Patricia M. Hammock, M.Ed./AET

Nashville-Davidson County Register of Deeds, Karen Johnson, MBA, is in her second year of her first term as the first woman and the first African American in history to lead the department. In describing her ascent to this prestigious role, Register Johnson credited getting involved as the catalyst, “As the young mother of two boys, I was working full-me, but I made me get involved in their school PTAs. I was a leader in my neighborhood association, and I went on to serve on the Metro Board of Zoning Appeals and the Board of Parks and Recreation. My first elected position was to represent our district on the Metro School Board, then I was elected twice to the Metro Council from District 29 in Antioch. My Council colleagues elected me unanimously as Council President Pro Tempore. In 2018, the people of Davidson County elected me as their Register of Deeds.”

Asked how her upbringing influenced her career, Register Johnson said, “My parents – both renowned educators – taught me the value of an education, paving the way for me to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Tennessee State University and an MBA in Management at Trevecca Nazarene University. My studies enabled me to work in human resources management in both the public and private sectors – for the State of Tennessee, HCA, Shoney’s Inc., and Mercy Health Services. That experience that has given me unique qualifications to administer the Register of Deeds office and our staff.

Mrs. Johnson said she knew as a teen that her purpose would involve serving others, “public service would be a lifelong passion for me. It is a dream from which I have never wavered.” Karen is firmly rooted in the Nashville community. “I am the proud wife of an honorably discharged United States Marine, David Johnson, and we have three sons, Jonathan, Christopher, and Dave, and one granddaughter. Our boys graduated from Metro Public Schools, and we have made our home for many years in the Priest Lake area of Antioch, TN.”

A proponent for inclusion and representation, Karen said, “It is vitally important that our department, along with all public departments, look like the people we serve in Davidson County.” To that end, she continued, “We have added diversity to our well-qualified staff. We have increased the number of African Americans working in the Register of Deeds office, including several on our leadership team, and we hired a Hispanic woman last year, enabling us to serve Nashville’s growing Spanish-speaking community.”

Mrs. Johnson’s legacy of service may leave one wondering if she sleeps. “I am a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and a past member of Les Gemmes Nashville chapter; a past Chair of the Sister for Sister Conference – 100 Black Women-Metro Nashville; a Past President of the Tennessee Women’s Political Caucus, and I was selected to participate in the Young Leaders Council, which honed my leadership skills.

I went on to serve on the Adventure Science Center Board, the YMCA Corporate Board, and the boards of the Women in Municipal Government and the Tennessee Municipal League. I was selected as a Fellow by the NLC Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials and was the first official from Nashville to be elected to the National League of Cities (NLC) Board of Directors. I am a member of the County Officials Association of Tennessee (COAT), the Tennessee Registers Association, and the Tennessee Land Title Association.”

The widely-acclaimed leader is pleased to be featured by Women Who Rock Nashville, “What an honor it is to be a part of this dynamic publication! I join the rest of the community as we look forward to the Women Who Rock Nashville 2020 event that will encourage women to uplift each other, to promote each other’s success, and to get involved.”

Among her many accolades, Register Johnson is recognized as one of Nashville Business Journal’s Women of Influence, The Tennessean’s 40 Under 40, the Nashville Chamber of Commerce’s Emerging Leaders, and a 2019 TSU Woman of Legend and Merit. The Leadership Nashville alumni, seeks to leave a legacy, “I would want to be remembered for integrity, for professionalism, and for a passion for service.”

For those who may aspire to follow in her footsteps, Karen says, “Take every opportunity to GET INVOLVED in the organizations in your community and be willing to step up and serve as a leader.” To her five-year-old self, Karen would say, “Stand tall and proud of who you are, and never give up on doing what you truly love to do. Always give everything you do 100%. Never sacrifice your integrity, your honesty, your faith in God.”

Register Johnson shared a missive of which most are unaware, “Many people do not know that I have a twin sister, Sharon. We were adopted into a loving family at birth.”