UWA nursing alum displays a natural affinity for entrepreneurship
Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram
Sitting on a stool in the bustling nutrition shop she co-owns with her sister, Chloe Johnson Stokes seems blissfully unaware that for most 23-year-olds, owning one business鈥攍et alone two鈥� is anything but typical.
The Johnson family has long been a fixture in Meridian, Mississippi鈥檚 business scene. However, Stokes initially chose a different path, following in her mother鈥檚 footsteps into nursing at the baby直播鈥攚here her parents met. Her mother completed an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) in 1995 and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 1997 while her father returned to Meridian to work in the family鈥檚 mobile home business. Stokes mirrored her mother鈥檚 journey, earning her ASN in 2022 and her BSN in August 2024.
While studying at the University, she discovered downtown Livingston鈥檚 Twisted Tiger tea shop. 鈥淚 always saw the potential to grow the business and make it a more appealing atmosphere for college students and the community,鈥� she recalls.
With determination and her savings, Stokes and her sister, Emma Grace Johnson, purchased the shop in 2023, rebranding it as Livingston Nutrition. Recently, she stepped up as sole proprietor of a second location, Lakeshore Nutrition, at Dalewood Shore Lakes in Lauderdale, Mississippi, where her mom also offers yoga classes.
鈥淗aving a lot on my plate motivates me,鈥� she explains, reflecting on her mother鈥檚 suggestion to open another shop. 鈥淚 was all in.鈥�
Stokes and her husband, Brad, recently bought their first house in Dalewood after relocating from Gulf Breeze, Florida. While in Florida, she commuted bi-weekly to work as an emergency department nurse at Ochsner Rush Medical Center. Surprisingly, managing her businesses from afar proved less complex than anticipated.
鈥淢addie manages Livingston Nutrition, and she is fantastic, while Sarah has been my right-hand person at Lakeshore Nutrition. She, along with my dad, his crew, and our landlord, put in hours of hard work before opening the Dalewood location. Their help has relieved a lot of pressure for me.鈥�
For Stokes, balancing her demanding roles as an ED nurse and a business owner fuels her passion and energizes her. 鈥淚 love the marketing aspect of running a business,鈥� she shares, her eyes lighting up. 鈥淚 also enjoy working nights at the hospital. However, I鈥檓 still figuring out what I want to do in life.鈥�
Stokes has always thrived on activity. This drive was evident in high school and intensified during her time at UWA, where she not only excelled academically but also cheered for the Tigers, was a member of the Student Government Association and the Phi Mu sorority, served as president of the Campus Activities Board, and was crowned UWA鈥檚 75th homecoming queen in 2021.
Her connection to UWA runs deep, rooted in her family鈥檚 long history with the university. 鈥淢y parents helped build a foundation here so that we could have a place to spend countless hours at UWA homecoming festivities, fraternity gatherings, and other events,鈥� she recalls fondly. 鈥淏rad even proposed to me on the football field.鈥�
The couple is creating new memories in West baby直播 and continuing family traditions.
鈥淚 love coming to Livingston to check in at the shop, hunting on family land in Epes and York, visiting former co-workers and friends, and supporting alumni activities on campus,鈥� Stokes notes.
As she navigates the busy intersections of nursing and entrepreneurship, she remains excited for the future.
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful I can explore my passions with Brad by my side and my family encouraging me to pursue my dreams. At UWA, they say, 鈥楾here is something about this place,鈥� and they鈥檙e right. Knowing I have a support network to help me face any challenges ahead makes me truly happy.鈥�