Eleanor Antoinette Johnson
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Eleanor A. Johnson, 93, died August 4, 2020, with her family by her side in Rockville, MD.
The internment service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday August 11th at Parklawn Memorial Park in Rockville, Maryland.
She was born December 9, 1926, in Jersey City, NJ to Della Howard and Richard Sampson Johnson.
Raised in Jersey City, NJ, Eleanor graduated from Snyder High School in 1945. She then pursued her college education at Virginia Union University, where she graduated Cum Laude in 1948. She rounded out her education receiving her MA from Jersey City State College (now University).
After a distinguished career as a college counselor, YMCA Director and caseworker in New York, Virginia and New Jersey, Eleanor returned to her native Jersey City to begin a twenty-two year career as Associate Director of Graduate Studies at Jersey City State College. She was responsible for graduate admissions, the graduate catalog and foreign students.
She was a steadfast and true champion of fairness and integrity, always vigilant to insure that the rights of individuals students were protected. She served as a real mentor for foreign students as recognized by students who came from China, Japan, Kenya and the Philippines. She was an outstanding college leader who made significant contributions to the effectiveness of Affirmative Action and to the success of Graduate Studies at Jersey City State College.
Eleanor was an active member of the National Association of Foreign Student Advisors, the NAACP, the Urban League, the African American Historical and Cultural Committee of Jersey City, the American Association of University Women, the Board of Directors of the Jersey City YWCA, the Occupational Center of Hudson County, the James A. Gayle Foundation and on the Vestry of the Church of the Incarnation in Jersey City NJ. She is a Golden Soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., with over 50 years of service. She was most recently active with the Delta Omega Chapter in Petersburg, VA.
When she retired to Petersburg, VA, she became and active and devoted member of the St. Stevens Episcopal Church. In 2015 she moved to Montgomery Village, MD to be closer to family.
Ms. Johnson is survived by her brother, Richard Howard Johnson; niece, Sandra Barganier ; nephew Richard N. Johnson; grandnephews Nicholas G. Harris and Richard M. Johnson; grandniece Royce I. Johnson; and goddaughter Gail Hernandez.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Della Howard Johnson and her father Richard Sampson Johnson.
In lieu of flowers Eleanor's wishes were that donations be sent to St. Stevens Episcopal Church Petersburg, VA or to Virginia Union University. Please view and sign the family's online guestbook at www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com.