“I serve on Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services’ (CNHS) Board because I believe in its mission and want the work to continue at all cost,” explained Board Chairperson W. Pearl Johnson when asked to explain her dedication to the organization. “I want all of Clearwater to sparkle.”

W. Pearl Johnson is a product of the city of Clearwater. She grew up in the North Greenwood section and attended Curtis Elementary and graduated from Pinellas High. Both schools were segregated at the time, but that did not stop her from pursuing a successful career in the banking industry.

Mrs. Johnson started her career as a bookkeeper, in 1970, at the former First National Bank of Clearwater. Eventually, the bank was acquisitioned by AmSouth and now has become Regions Bank. Mrs. Johnson transitioned with the bank through all of its changes and was quickly promoted to other positions.

Her career accelerated through the organization. At the bank she was quickly promoted to branch manager, overseeing a staff of 7 employees, where she was responsible to acquire new commercial and residential accounts. W. Pearl Johnson became a liaison for the banks’ Small Minority Business Program that encompassed an area from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs. She also approached the bank regarding community support efforts and donations. Through her efforts the bank began to make donations to the NAACP, Sepia, and Martin Luther King Banquet and other community events. Her tenure at AmSouth Bank totaled 25 years: five of those as assistant vice-president. Now she is with BB&T Bank.

W. Pearl Johnson has been a board member of CNHS since 1984. She has intermittently served as it chairperson through the years, most recently the last four years. She is really proud of the overall revitalization work that CNHS has done especially in the North Greenwood community. She says it has really impacted the black neighborhood. “We, on the governing board, help with the decision making, review staff raises, and make sure there are resources for the organization,” she said. Mrs. Johnson explained that the pool of funding for organizations is dwindling and that new innovative avenues must be explored in order to avoid a shortfall. “It is our responsibility [the board] to keep the doors of the organization open,” she said. “The board wants to take the organization to self-sufficiency.”