Bentha Self Johnson

Bentha Self Johnson, 76, of Charlotte, NC died on November 22, 2013. Born February 11, 1937 in Ellenboro, NC, daughter of the late Ruth Downs and Ernest Self, her family moved from what was then a small rural community in Rutherford County to Morganton where she graduated from high school. She began her college years at Gardner Webb College, then won a Hankins scholarship to Wake Forest University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959. She began her thirty year teaching career in Reidsville, NC and earned her Masters Degree in Education in 1968 at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Mrs. Johnson was a great teacher, having taught earth science on the middle school level in public and private schools in Charlotte. Inspiring her children to set the same course, she saw them advance through various academic and social ranks to the highest levels and was extremely proud of them. She received several grants during her teaching years to study earth and space science. The opportunities afforded by these grants included a descent into the crater of Mt. St. Helens, meetings with astronauts, including Sally Ride and four trips to the International Science Fair with her special student, Chris Mullis, a first place prize winner. Bentha and her husband logged thousands of miles pedaling their tandem bicycle with various groups such as Vermont Bike Tours through areas in France, Germany, Italy, Croatia, Canada and the US. She was a member of the Cannonballs Cycling Club with whom she cycled many MS-150 tours to Myrtle Beach and other destinations, raising thousands of dollars for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. She enjoyed watching ACC basketball, reading, working in her flower garden, bargain shopping and cheering for her Demon Deacons whenever their games were televised. Nothing gave her more pleasure than her granddaughters. They were the "light of her life." Mrs. Johnson is survived by her husband of 44 years, Dr. Edward P. Johnson; son, Edward Johnson of Los Angeles, CA; daughters, Gannon J. Ward and husband, David, of Ridgefield, CT and Paula J. Smith and husband, Matt, of Brisbane, Australia and her beautiful granddaughters, Katherine and Lillian Ward, to whom she was known as Mimi. She is also survived by her sister, Rachel Smith and husband, Jim, of Raleigh, NC and brother, Maynard Self and wife, Brenda, of Statesville, NC. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Isabel McGinnis, formerly of McLeansville, NC. In addition to her immediate family, she is survived by a large number of Johnson brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly. Their support over the past year and a half was invaluable. The family wishes to thank the team at the Blumenthal Infusion Center for their kindness, professionalism and support for the last eighteen months. A service to celebrate her life will be held 4:00 PM Tuesday, November 26, 2013, in the chapel of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service. Donations can be made in her name to the Blumenthal Infusion Center at the Levine Cancer Institute, 1025 Morehead Medical Drive, Charlotte, NC 28204.