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It happened early on a Sunday morning. On September 13, Better Homes and Gardens star Johanna Griggs took to Instagram to share the news that her mother, Leigh, had died.
“She was our fearless leader. Our guiding light. Our voice of reason. Our inspiration,” the 52-year-old shared of her mum.
“She gave us our values, our principles… and taught us the difference between what’s right and wrong. And then she taught us to stand up for, or against both of those things.”
Describing Leigh as “beautiful, loving, kind, passionate, vocal, forthright, sometimes crazy and so unbelievably generous”, Joh – who is married to husband Todd Huggins – told how she’d “instilled the meaning and value of family” in her and her siblings’ families.
“I quite simply wouldn’t have the life or career I have without her,” the Channel Seven star reflected. “We all owe her so much and are so grateful for every sacrifice she made; every challenge she faced with so much class.
“She has shaped us all in ways that are hard to truly capture. We are just so grateful she is now in peace.”
Now, a week on from the heartbreaking loss, insiders tell Woman’s Day that Joh – who has two adults sons, Jesse and Joe, herself – is naturally feeling reflective.
“Understandably, Joh is devastated by the loss of her mother. They were incredibly close, and Joh credits her mum for shaping the person she became and, in many ways, for the success she has achieved,” the source shares.
“She has spoken about the values her mother instilled in her and the way she was raised, many of which Joh carried into raising her own children.
“Her mum showed her what strength looked like, and was someone Joh could always turn to for guidance and support.”
The source describes Leigh as Joh’s “greatest supporter and biggest fan” – a mum who was “immensely proud” of her daughter’s competitive achievements in the swimming pool, and “just as proud” of her TV career.
“Even when the path wasn’t always easy, she was Joh’s rock and someone who was always in her corner,” the insider goes on, adding that Leigh would tune in every week to watch Joh on Better Homes and Gardens and genuinely loved the show.
“That meant a lot to Joh, and is one of the reasons the program has remained such an important part of her life for so long,” the source shares.
So with the loss of her mum, what’s next for the star who is a standout TV favourite for Channel Seven viewers?
“Losing her mum has inevitably made Joh reflect on what matters, including her career or her place in television,” the source concedes.
“If anything, the love and support Leigh gave her throughout her career is something Joh carries with her.
“Continuing to do what she loves as long as she can is also, in its own way, a tribute to the woman who was always there cheering her on.”
