Johnnie Dodenhoff Fulton was born March 11, 1956, in Columbia, to parents F. Louise Poole and John R. Dodenhoff, Jr. She graduated with a degree in special education from Furman University in 1978; and received her J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1981.
She spent 40 years of her life practicing law first as a public defender, and then as a plaintiff ’s attorney.
In 1993, she and Andrew Barr established Fulton & Barr. In 1996, she ran for office in Greenville County as a Democrat.
She was a member of the SC Bar, American Bar Association, SC Trial Lawyers Association, SC Association of Justice, SC Women Lawyers Association, and the Injured Workers Advocates, where she served as president. She was licensed to practice before the U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina, Fourth Judicial Circuit.
Johnnie was chairwoman of the Greenville County Democratic Party and served on the SC Commission on Women.
She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution – Nathanael Greene Chapter, and the Paladin Club Board at Furman University. She was a member of Christ Church Episcopal, where she taught Sunday school. She served on the Diocesan Board for Missions, where she led three trips to Haiti.
Johnnie Dodenhoff Fulton died on June 9, 2021. She is survived by her spouse, Allan P. Fulton, Jr.; daughter, Valerie E. Fulton; and son, William W. Fulton.