JILLIAN JOHNSON LEFT HER MARK HERE

[EDITOR’S NOTE: All of Acadiana was touched by the horrific shooting at the Lafayette movie theater last week, not only out of sympathy and outrage but in many cases because of connections, direct or extended, to the victims. Louisiana sugarcane farmers are deeply saddened by the death of 21-year-old Mayci Breaux, daughter of Franklin cane farmer Kevin Breaux and wife Dondi. Mayci was the 2012 St. Mary Parish Sugar Queen. The growing community of kayakers, environmental activists and entrepreneurs from the four parishes bound together by Bayou Teche will always remember the other fatality in the theater shooting, Jillian Johnson, 33, as the multitalented woman who gave The TECHE Project and Tour du Teche their signature looks. The “little Cajun dude” on the race logo is being sported on shirts and caps all over the nation and beyond. That’s Jillian’s work, and we will always treasure it. Kristen Kordecki, who worked with Jillian from the beginning of The TECHE Project, here shares her memory of this remarkable person who died far too soon but has left her mark on the Teche country and wherever people travel from here.]

Jillian was a giver. She was creative, but with a purpose in mind, which made her the most interesting and successful kind of entrepreneur. She knew the value of her talents and how to apply them to businesses and community projects. We often talked about goals for TownFolk, a non-profit she created that focuses on beautifying the Pierce Street neighborhoods and breathing life into the older, overlooked parts of town. She and I conceived a food group and seed sharing network together; she loved gardening and had the best watermelon seeds to share with her neighbors. Sometimes, when she had run out of something in her garden, I’d see her in mine, having quickly run down to snip basil or another herb she needed for a recipe she was in the middle of cooking. Sharing, creating, and growing the capacity of Acadiana to love even more: that’s how I will forever see Jillian. In chunky heels and a great hairdo, too!
Jillian helped define the ethos of Lafayette and Acadiana. Through her talent as a graphic artist, she transformed the way many of us see our communities. Her designs capture how we feel about our home, and spotting a “Jillian design” anywhere in the region is almost effortless. Talking with a friend, we agreed that Jillian likely left her mark on more than half of the albums in her music collection, whether through her own musical influence, consultation, or handy work. Jillian’s work and love are prolific.
Jillian tried to balance success in business with generosity in community building. She helped the TECHE Project in its infancy, and she continued to be a good friend to the organization and the Council. As some of her first official clients, we did our best to fit inside the new parameters she was testing to operate a design business more effectively. As several of us sat in Jillian and her brother Bram’s cozy home office, they practiced patience with us as we explained what the TECHE Project is and what we do. They knew what message we wanted to communicate to the public right away. Jillian helped us better understand what we wanted to accomplish and the value of our volunteer work. Within days, we received our proofs with several options to choose from, and in short order, they provided us with website layout, several designs, and a plethora of good advice about interacting with our supporters. Jillian didn’t have to provide this extra attention or good advice. She did it because she understood the value of social capital and that her involvement in our community exceeded a paycheck. Building a place that provides a quality of life we can all enjoy takes a tremendous amount of care and attention toward one another and the projects and businesses we are building to make this place home. As Jillian, her husband, Jason, and her brother, Bram, grew Parish Ink and Red Arrow Workshop, people shopped there not only because her T-shirts “make Acadiana cool,” but because Jillian was fun to visit with. What new project is she working on? How is she rearranging the store? Is she going to Festival? As we read the continuous comments on social media about Jillian, one thing I’m certain of is that people are not saying kind and generous things about Jillian because she is gone. They are saying them because they are true.
Jillian’s life touched so many of ours. At the TECHE Project, we are grateful we were the recipients of her talents, generosity, and friendship. For comfort, we wrap ourselves in this tapestry that Jillian helped weave, and our hearts are with Jillian’s parents, husband, daughter, brother, family, and friends.
(Kate Spear contributed to this story.)

Kristen Kordecki is one of the founders of The TECHE Project and serves on the organization’s governing council.