THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 15, 1995 TAG: 9507150320
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Long : 101 lines
Dr. Evelyn Adelaide Johnson, former director of choral activities and first retired Professor Emeritus at Elizabeth City State University, 85, of 1609 Brookridge Drive, died Monday, July 10, 1995, in Albemarle Hospital.
Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. in Moore Hall Auditorium at Elizabeth City State University. Burial will be in Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg, Va., Monday, at 12:30 p.m. The procession will leave from 1609 Brookridge Drive Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Visitation will be Saturday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at Corner Stone Missionary Baptist Church. The family will be at the home of the deceased. Walson Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Dr. Evelyn Adelaide Johnson was born on August 4, 1909, in Petersburg, Va., to Edward and Mary Byrd Johnson. Dr. Johnson grew up with three loving sisters and a brother, all preceded her in death, and with parents who instilled in her a desire for excellence. Simultaneously they guided her to develop a deep reverence for, and an abiding faith in, The Almighty. It was her faith in God, her desire to help others be all that they could be that were the driving forces in her life. At an early age she joined and became active in Gill Field Baptist Church in Petersburg. After coming to Elizabeth City, she continued her involvement with the church at Corner Stone Missionary Baptist Church where she was active until her death.
She graduated from Peabody High in Petersburg as valedictorian of her class. In 1928, she earned a B.A. degree from Fisk University, where she became a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Her graduate work included a Professional Diploma in Piano and Music Theory from Fisk University and a M.A. degree in Music Performance and Music Education from Columbia University. Further study was accomplished at Syracuse University, American University, and Bucknell University.
She began her career as a music teacher in 1929 in Mullens, West Virginia. After a one-year stay, she was employed as an instructor of Music/Literature at Christianburg Institute in Cambria, Va.
In 1933, Dr. Johnson came to Elizabeth City State Normal School where she became a music instructor. Her titles advanced from Music Instructor, 1933-36; Director of Music, 1936-40; Chairman of Fine Arts Department, 1958-61; to Chairman of the Music Department, 1961-65. She served as director of Choral Activities from 1933-75.
In addition, she has published the ``History of Elizabeth City State University: A Story of Survival''; created the activities which are now traditional on the ECSU campus-choir tours, choir banquets honoring graduating seniors, and choir Christmas caroling; organized the Lyceum Series, purchased the first Concert Grand Piano; and integrated the Music Educators National Conference along with Dr. Warner Lawson, Howard University, Mr. Fredrick Hall, Alabama State College and Mr. John J. Ballou, Hampton University in St. Louis, Missouri (1944); accepted advisorship of the ``Be Natural Club'', which was started by Dr. Jessie Welch (this club raised money to place the first marker on a lamp post on the front campus that read ``State Normal School''); and in 1972, she raised $20,000 for the European choir tour and raised $12,000 in 1975 to take the choir to the Grand Bahamas upon an invitation from the United States Embassy in Nassau, Grand Bahamas.
Upon her retirement from Elizabeth City State University in 1975, she was named the first Professor Emeritus by the ECSU Board Of Trustees. Dr. Johnson organized the Bicentennial Community Chorus for the dedication of the New Physical Education Facility, now the Robert L. Vaughan Physical Education Center. The group re-named themselves, ``The Evelyn A. Johnson Community Singers'' and still exists.
For several decades she was a faithful member of Corner Stone Missionary Baptist Church, serving the church and its officials in many different capacities. She was the only President and the driving force of the Historical Society of Corner Stone. This group has produced several publications about the church, including ``Rev. John E. Trotman, the First Ten Years.'' At the time of her demise, she was leading the group in writing the history of Corner Stone. She was active in other church groups, especially the Cheerful We Club.
Other honors in her recognition include: The Evelyn A. Johnson Alumni Chapter; The Evelyn A. Johnson African-American Festival; The Evelyn A. Johnson Hall on ECSU's campus; Director Emeritus of Pasquotank County Arts Council; an honorary Doctorate Degree in Music by the Board of Trustees of ECSU; and Corner Stone Missionary Baptist Church Woman of the Year, 1993.
She is listed in the following publications; ``Outstanding Educators of America,'' 1973; ``Personalities of the South,'' 1973; and ``Who's Who Among American Women,'' 1974.
Organizations in which she held membership included Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Chapter Member of Zeta Kappa Omega Chapter; American Choral Directors Association; Charter Member of the Music Club in Elizabeth City; Member of the National Association of University Women; Charter Member ECSU Association of Retired Persons; Honorary Life Member of ECSU General Alumni Association; and Life Member of North Carolina Association of Music Educators.
Dr. Evelyn A. Johnson is survived by a nephew, Melvin Dixon of San Antonio, Texas; two great-nephews, Nathaniel Gregory of Wilmington, Del., and Edward Joseph Gregory of Pensacola, Fla.; a great-niece, Deborah Bynum of Portsmouth, Va.; a niece-in-law, Olive Byrd Dulaney of Baltimore, Md.; two devoted godchildren, Albert W. and Betty W. Thweatt of Disputanta, Va.; other godchildren, Marion L. Walker and Grace Wright of Ettrick, Va., Paula Riddick of Chesapeake, Va., and Kevin Patillo of Virginia Beach, Va.; and a host of devoted neighbors, students, and friends, many of whom she regarded as her extended family.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY
by CNB