Elizabeth Johnson

Elizabeth C. Johnson

Alabama formerly of Canton - Elizabeth Ann Calvin Johnson passed away on March 3, 2022 after a long and fulfilling life.

Mrs. Johnson was born on November 18, 1929 in Canton, NC and graduated from Canton High School in 1947.  She was the devoted wife of Dr. Wiley Carroll Johnson, Jr. for 55 years, and the daughter of Gardner and Azalea Calvin.

Mrs. Johnson is survived by two sons, Dr. Wiley Carroll Johnson, III of Tifton, GA and Dr. Calvin Matthews Johnson (Mary) of Auburn.  Grandchildren include Dr. Frances Johnson Aune and husband Kyle of Baltimore, MD and Gardner Calvin Johnson and wife Amanda of Atlanta, GA, Anna Murry Johnson of Opelika, and Sara Carroll Johnson of Statesboro, GA.  Mrs. Johnson is also survived by her sister Nancy Calvin Mills and husband Charles (Bob) of Norcross, GA.  She was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Joyce Henderson of Waynesville, NC and daughter-in-law June Womack Johnson of Tifton, GA.  She is survived by sister-in-law Jane Johnson Bird (Bill) of Waynesville, NC.  Mrs. Johnson enjoyed her relationships with her many nieces, nephews, and friends.  Mrs. Johnson was particularly proud of her grandchildren.

Mrs. Johnson was a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Greensboro in 1951 (formerly Woman’s College of UNC in Greensboro) with degrees in Institution Management, and Nutrition and Foods.  Subsequently, she worked with the Raleigh (NC) City Schools.  She served as therapeutic dietitian and later as supervising dietitian of Tompkins County Hospital in Ithaca, New York while her husband completed PhD training at Cornell University.

After moving to Auburn in 1957 and raising her sons, Mrs. Johnson became Director of Child Nutrition for Auburn City Schools in 1969.  She planned and executed a satellite food service in four elementary schools, where hot lunches were served to children for the first time.  The program was innovative in Alabama and was studied and replicated by other school systems.

Many other creative strategies to improve child nutrition and extend access to nutritious foods were implemented during her 17 years of service.  Mrs. Johnson was active in the Alabama Association of Child Nutrition Program Supervisors and the Alabama Council for School Administration and Supervision.

Throughout her accomplished professional career, Mrs. Johnson balanced the demands of being a professional leader with her devotion as a loving and ever-present mother and wife.

Mrs. Johnson was a loyal member of the Presbyterian Church USA.  In First Presbyterian Church of Auburn, she served as an Elder, Sunday school superintendent and teacher, and Circle chair, in addition to many other roles in 65 years of deep commitment to the Church.  Mrs. Johnson continued her devotion to the Canton (NC) Presbyterian Church, her home church, and treasured her deep family roots in Western North Carolina.

A funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2022 in the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with the Reverend Esta Jarrett of the Canton Presbyterian Church officiating.  Burial will follow at  Locust Field Cemetery (Canton, NC) in the Johnson family plot.  Honorary pallbearers will be Gardner Johnson, Kyle Aune, Larry Mills, Gary Henderson, David Henderson, and Allen Patterson.  A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date, with Rev. Kathy Reed and Rev. Nick Reed, First Presbyterian Church of Auburn, presiding.

Memorial gifts may be made to either the First Presbyterian Church of Auburn (143 E Thach Ave, Auburn, AL 36830) or the Auburn University Foundation in support of the Dr. Wiley C. Johnson Endowed Scholarship in the College of Agriculture at Auburn University (visit auburngiving.org or mail to the Auburn University Foundation, 317 S. College Street, Auburn, AL  36849).

The care of Mrs. Johnson has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes of Canton and an online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.wellsfuneralhome.com