Dr. Yvonne Ophelia Reynolds Johnson Obituary (1946

Rev. Dr. Yvonne O. Reynolds-Johnson, the eldest daughter, was born October 14, 1946, in Nottoway County, VA to the loving family of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Reynolds, Sr. of Crewe, VA. She graduated from Luther H. Foster High School (Nottoway County High School). She received a B.S. degree from Saint Paul's College in Lawrenceville, VA; a Master's degree in Elementary Education from Longwood University in 1986, and Doctorate degree from Virginia Tech in Administration and Supervision in 1997. Her secular employment experience in the Nottoway County Public School System began in 1968 where she started as a Chapter I Reading teacher serving in that capacity until 1973 when she became an elementary schoolteacher. In 1991, she was named Principal of Blackstone Intermediate School, moving in 1993 to become Principal of Crewe Primary School. Dr. Johnson was named Director of Special Education and Instructional Services in 1998. She held a Virginia Postgraduate Professional Certificate Endorsements for Elementary Principal, Director of Instruction, Elementary Supervisor, General Supervisor, Assistant Principal for Instruction and Elementary grades 1-7 and. She was an Adjunct Professor at Saint Paul's College where she taught and touched the lives of many students. Dr. Johnson's last appointed supervisory position was Division Assistant Superintendent of Nottoway County Public Schools from 1999 to 2009. Once she retired in 2009, she was appointed as the Interim Superintendent in May 2019 - July 2019. These career decisions, historically made Dr. Johnson the first, black female Assistant Superintendent, Interim Superintendent, and Principal of Nottoway County Public Schools. Dr. Johnson was a member of various organizations which included Phi Delta Kappa, Virginia Association Elementary School Principals, and Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is survived by her husband, Mr. Curtis C. Johnson of fifty-four years, and daughter, Soundra Ward and her grandson, Nathan Curtis Ward. Two brothers, Jesse M. Reynolds, Jr. (deceased) and Mr. Rodney Reynolds and three sisters, Dr. Brenda Reynolds-Mayo of Richmond, VA, Dr. Carol Reynolds-Freeman of Ellicott City, MD, and Mrs. Connie Reynolds-Hurt of Burkeville, VA. Three brothers-in-law, Mr. Robert Mayo, Sr., Mr. Larry Freeman, and Mr. Sylvester Hurt; and her aunts Mrs. Melvina Reynolds Brooks-Alfroukh of Silver Springs, MD and Mrs. Barbara Johnson of Baltimore, MD, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, There is peace, Where the Spirit of the Lord is There is love, There is comfort in life's darkest hour There is light and life, There is help and power in the Spirit, In the Spirit of the Lord!"