Etta P. Barrettt Johnson Was born August 2, 1927 to the union of Julius Barrett and Linnie M. Pettaway Barrett in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. She passed away at the age of 94 on March 2, 2022 in Hampton, VA where she resided at Golden Years Assistant Living Facility.
After her father’s death, her mother married Joe Nathan Dunn and the family relocated to Norfolk, VA, She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, after which she attended Norfolk State for two years. She married William H. Johnson Il and was a mother to 6 children.
She was a member of Messiah Presbyterian Church and served as a Deacon, Elder, Secretary-Treasurer, Adult Sunday School Teacher and First Chair of the Food Program which she started. She served as Vice President of Victims Against Crime (VAC) and as Chair of the VAC Scholarship Committee.
Etta’s travels: Liberia (West Africa), Uganda (East Africa), The Bahamas, Switzerland, France, Germany, England, Pakistan, India and China.
Her Honors and Awards: The Acorn Association Award in “Recognition of Efforts to Empower Low Income and Minority Citizens through Voter Participation,” The Virginia Polytechnic & State University Award of Distinction for dedication and service to the Tomorrow’s Teachers Norfolk Program from 93-95, Norfolk Senior Olympics where she placed first for three consecutive years, and again in 2007. The Norfolk Electoral Board appointed her as an Elections Poll Officer for Northside Precinct where she served in both local and national elections, All the rewards she received here on earth are no comparison to the reward that awaits her on the other side.
She loved eating vegetables and was skilled in making sweet potato pies and hot rolls.
She is proceeded in death by her parents, husband, sisters: Helen B. Daily and Martha Ann B. Brown, three sons: Robert L. Johnson, Maurice R. Johnson and William H. Johnson Ill.
Her Legacy will be remembered by her daughter, Linnie M. Dunn Kesselly of Flemington, NJ. and two sons, Lawrence C. Johnson (Euniceteen) of Chesapeake, VA, and Randal E. Johnson (Saundra) of Midlothian, VA, 16 grandchildren, one whom she raised (Rosalyn Painter Barretto), 29 great grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.
