Eunice Johnson founder of the Ebony Fashion Fair, the traveling fashion show that showcased African-American beauty and design and raised tens of millions of dollars for charity has died.

Mrs. Johnson, who died Sunday, was the widow of Ebony magazine publisher John H. Johnson, whose publishing empire linked African Americans across the nation.

Johnson Publishing Co., the publisher of the Chicago magazine, put out a written statement that read, in part:

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Eunice W. Johnson, wife of the late John H. Johnson, founder of Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. As a trailblazer in fashion, Mrs. Johnson served as producer and director of Ebony Fashion Fair since 1961 and also held the office of secretary-treasurer at Johnson Publishing, home to Ebony and Jet magazines.

"Mrs. Johnson has always been a woman ahead of her time. Under her direction, Mrs. Johnson made a tremendous impact on the fashion industry, showcasing the best in style on African-American models of various shapes, sizes and skin tones. It was her sheer determination and astute business sense that helped pave the way for supermodels Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Iman and Beverly Johnson."