Elizabeth Ann (Baber) Johnson Obituary

[Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington, KY, Feb 3, 2009]

Elizabeth Ann Baber "Betty" Johnson

JOHNSON, Elizabeth (Betty) Ann Baber, 82, born New Year's Eve, 1926 to the late Powhatan Miller Baber and Elsie Christie Baber, passed away peacefully at 9:30am EST on Wed, Jan 28, 2009.

Betty is survived by former husband of 42 years, William H. Johnson, II; three sons and daughters-in-law, William H., III (Jane) of Lexington, KY, Mark B. (Peggy) of Savannah, GA, and Paul D. (Angela) of Marion, AL. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Christie, Arthur, Madeline and Olivia; two sisters, Ruth Mozley of Sun City, AZ, and Jean Coffield of Morgantown, WV; one brother, Powhatan (Dorothy) Baber of Charlottesville, VA, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Helen Young of Sun City, AZ.

Betty was born in Roswell, NM where her father was a minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Her father died suddenly when she was 2, prompting her mother to move Betty and her four siblings back to their roots in Morgantown, WV. Mother Elsie became one of the first Department of Welfare case workers in President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. At the age of 8, Betty accompanied her mother and President and Mrs. Roosevelt on several tours of northern West Virginia coal camps. These tours and social work with her mother would have a profound influence on Betty and her career. Betty was musically inclined and sang in a women's trio called "The Three Little Words" on KDKA radio in Pittsburgh, PA in the early 1940's. In 1944, Betty graduated from Morgantown High School. During this period, she helped found and became the first white female president of an NAACP chapter in West Virginia. Betty earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from West Virginia University (WVU) in January 1948, and completed a Masters of Science in Home Economics Education from WVU in June of 1953. In 1948, Betty was an instructor of General Biology and Agricultural Botany at WVU. In 1948-1956, she taught in the Monongalia County, WV public school system teaching Elementary Nutrition and Home Economics. Her first classroom in Cassville, WV was a converted coal bunker that was transformed with help from the local coal miners. Betty was also the Supervising Teacher of Home Economics for WVU from 1953-1956. Her family moved to Catonsville, MD in 1955 and Betty taught Home Economics at Catonsville and Arbutus Junior High Schools where she was Department Chairman. While there, she also pioneered a successful program teaching Home Economics to male prison convicts. In late 1959, the family moved to Brandenburg, KY where Betty became head of the Home Economics Department at Meade County High School. She was dedicated to her students and would complete home visits with each of them to assess their home lives and special needs. As a result, she helped many disadvantaged students and redirected them to lives of success. In recognition of these efforts, she was named the first recipient of the Kentucky Home Economics Teacher of the Year Award in 1974, sponsored by the American Home Economics Association and Family Circle Magazine. In 1975 she was appointed the first female Kentucky Director of Vocational Education and Administrator of the new Lamar-Kunnecke Meade County Area Technology Center in Brandenburg. Betty served as President of the Meade County Chamber of Commerce and promoted many programs that led to economic growth in the county. She also served on the State Employment and Training Council for Kentucky in the late 1970's. Betty retired from her long career as an educator in 1986 and moved to Lexington, KY in 1989.

Betty will be remembered for her sense of humor and fun-loving nature. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, mentor, friend, educator, administrator and a faithful member of Crestwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Lexington, KY. Betty was loved by her family, friends, and legions of students her life touched. A memorial service and celebration of Betty's wonderful life will be held at 6:30pm on June 19, 2009 at Crestwood Christian Church, with a graveside service at 7pm the following evening at Greenwood Memorial Gardens in New Martinsville, WV. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the music program at Crestwood Christian Church, 1882 Bellefonte Dr, Lexington, KY 40503.