Keeping Current Catching Up with Gail Johnson
From Customer Service to Conservation
Keeping Current
Catching Up with Gail Johnson: From Customer Service to Conservation
Gail Johnson has lived most of her life in Swainsboro. In 1998, on a suggestion from her husband, Jerry – a 30-year system employee on the nuclear side – Gail applied for a job in Georgia Power’s Swainsboro office working in customer service. She worked in Swainsboro until 2007, when she had the opportunity to relocate to the Statesboro office and work with then Area Manager Terry Reeves, with whom she worked alongside until her retirement in 2013.
While her home base is still in Emanuel County, Gail and Jerry spend more of their time finding adventures around the state and beyond.
We caught up with Gail to talk more about what she loved about her time with Georgia Power, and how she and Jerry are finding more adventure in retirement.
The below excerpts have been edited for space.
What are you up to now?
Since retiring from Georgia Power in 2013, I’ve devoted a lot of my time to exploring and supporting Georgia’s state parks. My husband and I reassessed how we vacation and started to focus on adventure instead of just relaxation when we travel. We visited Providence Canyon in 2013, and we immediately got hooked. Now we’ve visited all of Georgia’s 60+ state parks and historic sites—some of them multiple times. We bought kayaks when we retired, and now we just kind of take them wherever we go.
Our home park is George L. Smith State Park, which is just a few miles from where we live. I serve as the treasurer for the Friends of George L. Smith, a nonprofit group that supports the park through volunteer work, programming, and fundraising. We kayak, hike, and spend time outdoors as often as we can. It’s not just recreation—it’s a passion.
Photography has also become a creative outlet for me. I took some classes before retiring and now combine that with our travels. I actually won a photo contest at Cloudland Canyon State Park in 2016 for some fall waterfall shots. That was a fun moment.
What was your proudest moment at Georgia Power?
One of my proudest moments came when I was working with Terry Reeves and he asked me to serve as the coordinator for the Statesboro Ambassadors chapter. It wasn’t part of my job description, but Terry thought I’d be a good fit. That role became something I loved deeply. Even though I wasn’t retired yet, I helped coordinate meetings, sent out newsletters, and served as a bridge between retirees and the active employees.
It quickly became more than a task—it felt more like a calling. I was proud to help create a sense of family and continuity for people who had dedicated their careers to Georgia Power. I still feel passionate about the Ambassadors and what we represent.
What did you enjoy most about your time at Georgia Power?
The people. Without a doubt, the people made my time at Georgia Power so special. It’s more than a workplace—it’s a family. I always felt welcomed, supported, and valued.
I was given opportunities to grow, even without relocating or moving up on a traditional career ladder. Whether it was through storm team assignments, working in customer service, or assisting an area manager, I felt like I was able to make a difference. Those relationships still mean a lot to me today.
Can you share your secrets to success?
My dad gave me advice that stuck with me my whole life: “Don’t just do what’s expected—do more.” Be early, stay late, go the extra mile.
Work ethic matters, and so does attitude. Find something that makes you happy. When you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work. That mindset carried me through my time at Georgia Power and continues to shape how I live today—whether it's through volunteering, traveling, or supporting my community.
