GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Yvonne Johnson served the Greensboro community for decades right up to her death, nearly one month ago. “A lot of people loved my mother and she loved them so we are just fortunate we had people that felt that way about your mother,” said Vernon Johnson about his mother, Yvonne Johnson. As tributes pour in for his mom, Vernon has his own plans to honor her and keep her legacy alive. He knows he can’t fill her shoes per se, but he wants to try sitting in her seat, on the Greensboro City Council. Rep. Virginia Foxx of NC falls at marble stairs outside US House chamber; ‘Everything seems to be okay’ Applications are open for the at-large seat and Vernon plans to hit submit on his application soon, to possibly carry on the legacy of the Johnson’s in public service. “It kind of shows the optimism that she had in her eyes and she just looks like, she is just beautiful,” Vernon said as he looked at a picture of his mom. She was a Greensboro legend, leader and a light to everyone she met. “I will never forget her legacy,” Vernon said. Her passion for public service lives on. “I am not saying make a name for myself but maybe just make her proud,” Vernon said. He has a lifetime of watching his mom serve as mayor, on city council and lead countless other initiatives across Greensboro. “I think they just instilled in us that in all of us, my siblings, myself that you need to serve people in such a way that you make their lives better,” Vernon said. WATCH: Greensboro Mayor Pro-Tem Yvonne Johnson’s horse-drawn funeral procession Those lifelong lessons, and some more recent conversations, led him to go online and fill out his application. “My mother and I had conversations about this prior to her untimely death and actually the early parts of 2024, she knew 2025 was going to be her last year in public service and so I think she knew that I was ready to step in to serve the people of Greensboro, I feel I am ready,” Vernon said. He said, in a way, she started this campaign. “We would be out to dinner and she was like oh this is my son, he is going to run for city council,” Vernon said. The applications opened on Thursday and will be open for 2 weeks, then each applicant has 5 minutes at a city council meeting to share why they deserve the spot. “Yes, I probably will mention my mother in that speech but at the same time I want them to know that I am my own man and Vernon Johnson is here to serve you,” Vernon said. More than 30 years as a teacher, eight years in the Navy and a coach to many, he hopes his passion for public service from his mom will lead him right to his next opportunity. Watch: Rep. Kathy Manning honors late Greensboro councilwoman ‘pillar of the community’ Yvonne Johnson “She always told me, you can want to push your own agenda but the most important thing is to listen to people, because when you listen to people you learn a lot more than talking so that is what I plan to do if chosen, I plan to listen to the citizens of Greensboro,” Vernon said. The vote for the at-large seat will happen on January 28. But first, on Tuesday, City Council will vote to fill the mayor-pro tem seat. It will be filled by one of the current council members based on a majority vote.