by Kenya Smith / Intern
kenya.smith@tidewaternews.com

FRANKLIN
Former Franklin mayor Raystine Johnson-Ashburn was honored as one of the Virginian-Pilot’s Inside Business Women in Business at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott on Dec. 11. For nine years, the paper’s Inside Business event honors the outstanding accomplishments and career success of women in the Hampton Roads business community.

Johnson-Ashburn, the manager at William M. Johnson & Sons Funeral Home on Main Street was nominated by Teresa Beale, who is the executive director of the Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce.

“She asked me if she could nominate me, and I felt deeply grateful for the nomination,” said Johnson-Ashburn.

After serving on the Franklin City Council from 1999-2012 and as mayor from 2012-2016, Johnson-Ashburn remains active in the community as she serves on the Paul D. Camp Community College Local Board and the Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

Along with the honorary dinner, a profile of Johnson-Ashburn’s accomplishments was included in the Dec. 17 print edition of Inside Business. She expressed her gratitude to her community.

“This recognition means a whole lot to me, and I consider it an honor to be nominated by the community that I serve and the people that I work with, and I would like to thank them all for the recognition.”

Kim Marks, CEO of Southampton Memorial Hospital, was last year’s Women in Business honoree.