Harriott Pinckney Means Johnson

Harriott Pinckney Means Johnson, 94, of Mount Pleasant, SC passed away peacefully at her home on April 16, 2025.

Harriott's Funeral Service will be at 1:00 PM, Monday, May 5, 2025, at St. Michael's Church. Interment will follow in St. Michael's Churchyard.

Harriott was born on February 17, 1931, in Charleston, SC to William Martin Means and Mary Battle Parsons Means.

Harriott was born severely deaf, she remained undiagnosed until around four years of age. At age five she was sent to the Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis where she learned to lip read and speak so she could communicate with her family and others. She later attended Ashley Hall School and finished at Holton Arms School in Washington, DC.

She married Arlington E. Johnson II and raised their four children. She later enrolled at the College of Charleston at the same time as her youngest son. There, she earned Bachelor of Art degrees in Fine Arts and American History. At the same time, she owned Small Change, a children's consignment shop, just down the street from her sister's shop, Porgy & Bess.  Harriott was very active with St. Michael's Church, where she played the keyboard which rang the bells for many years. Everyone downtown enjoyed them, although Harriott was unable to hear them herself.

Despite her challenges she was very involved in Charleston’s preservation and growing tourist industry. Harriott was an active member of The Carolina Assembly, Century Club, Charleston Library Society, Friends of Hampton Plantation (Treasurer), the Historic Charleston Foundation where she was on staff at both the Aiken Rhett House and the Powder Magazine, The Huguenot Society of South Carolina, Ivy Garden Club, Junior League of Charleston, Ladies Benevolent Society of Charleston, National Society of Colonial Dames of America, Sea Island Yacht Club, South Carolina Historical Society, and the Village Museum in the town of McClellanville.

An accomplished lady who overcame a significant disability, Harriott was well known and loved by many. She set a very high standard for her children to follow and will be dearly missed.

She was predeceased by her sisters, B Hutson and Sarah Taylor. She is survived by her four children, Harriott, Arley, Elizabeth and Martin; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to St. Michael's Church, 71 Broad Street, Charleston, SC 29401 or to Friends of Hampton Plantation, 1950 Rutledge Road, McClellanville, SC 29458.

Arrangements by James A. McAlister, Inc. (843) 766-1365.