Local Folks: Camille Johns

In a city of more than one million residents, a sense of community and finding a place among the masses is more important than ever.

For Ortega resident Camille Johns, discovering that hometown charm has been a rewarding journey she and her husband, Seth, have shared together.

“I can’t walk down the street without seeing someone I know,” Johns said. “I started to feel like I wanted to be more involved with the community, not shy away from it. We just really love Ortega and our neighbors.”

Born in Brazil, Johns and her family moved to the United States when she was 13 years old, settling in the Mandarin community. There she went to high school, met her future husband, and eventually graduated to study business.

After marrying, the young couple purchased their first home in the heart of Ortega in 2023 – a “fixer-upper” that they purchased on the very same day the property went on the market.

“I could go months and months without leaving this five-mile vicinity of Avondale and Ortega,” Johns said, explaining that the tight-knit community provides everything she could ever need.

From the cozy local coffee shops and charming vintage stores to the restaurant she and her husband frequent every few Sundays, Johns feels truly content on her little stretch of the river.

“You often hear people say that Jacksonville is expensive, or that it’s hard to make a living here, or that there isn’t a lot to do,” Johns said. “I couldn’t disagree with that more. There’s so much to do and see in Jacksonville.”

When they’re not attending Jags games as season passholders, cheering on the NFL home team at nearly every single game, Johns and her husband also enjoy going to the beach. Taking strolls through the beautiful, expansive Ortega neighborhoods is another of their favorite pastimes.

In early 2024, Johns left her desk job at a local church to pursue a different dream: event planning.

She launched her own business in April of the same year, aiming not only to bring joy and happiness to her community but also to deepen her connections with neighbors and become more ingrained in the local fabric.

“A lot of people highlight the hardships and struggles of life,” Johns said, “but there’s so much more that can be celebrated.”

After frequenting the flower mart down the street, the shop owner noticed her knack for floral arrangements. Before long, Johns was working part-time at the local store as a florist – another passion that brings her joy.

Looking to the future, Johns and her husband have their work cut out for them turning their new house into a home. Throughout the renovations, Johns has enjoyed connecting with her neighbors as they stopped by to admire the exciting updates in the property’s transformation.

There’s also the hope that one day, a certain teal-and-white NFL team will bring home that championship trophy– maybe before her next milestone.