JEAN THORNTON JOHNSON
Jean Thornton Johnson was born Nov. 19, 1933, in Newton Grove, N.C., to Rossie Marion Thornton and Gladys Pearl Keen Thornton.
As a youth, she led the junior choir at Pleasant Union Christian Church. She was salutatorian of her high school class at Newton Grove High School in 1952.
She was married at Pleasant Union Christian Church Feb. 28, 1954. She finished her final year of college coursework in Karlsruhe, Germany, in 1957, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Atlantic Christian College, now Barton College, once she returned stateside.
She was married for 24 years to Charles Raymond Johnson of Bentonville, N.C.
Jean was a member of a family of eight children, who remain extremely close.
In 1961, she began her graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, often in the company of her then four-year-old son, Ray, at his request.
While working as a school librarian, Jean completed her master's degree in library science in 1968.
In 1968, Jean began work directing the school libraries for Raleigh public schools.
After a merger with the Wake County Public School System, she continued directing the county's school libraries, retiring as director of library media services in 1996.
Jean worked tirelessly to promote school libraries, serving the North Carolina Association of School Librarians, the North Carolina Library Association and the American Library Association in the process.
Jean also helped found the Capital Area Library Association and the North Carolina Educational Media Association (now NCAECT), and was a founding parent of the Montessori School of Raleigh.
Jean worked to gain professional development funds for Wake County librarians, and served as lead author of AV Cataloging and Processing Simplified. Each of its four editions not only served librarians nationally, but promoted the excellence of Wake County Schools.
In the early 1980s, Jean taught classes herself to librarians on how to use personal computers. With this work and computer purchases for school libraries, Jean helped to lead the way toward computer use becoming regularly accessible for Wake County schoolchildren.
Jean requested two successful bond votes for Wake County School Libraries: In 1990, to network all classrooms via classroom monitors to the media centers, and in 1993 to 1995, to automate all media centers.
Jean was proud of her role in successfully obtaining a $1.2 million Library Power Grant, which was awarded from 1994 to 1997.
Jean recognized the value of Battle of the Books for middle school youths, and expanded it from Martin Middle School across Wake County, leading the way for North Carolina.
Jean loved learning so much that she couldn't imagine not trying to spread access to learning to all, and to children in particular.
Jean remained devoted to her family, both immediate and extended, throughout her life. Her siblings by birth and by marriage remained favorite companions all her life.
Many nieces and nephews still have books signed, "Love, Aunt Jean," which are being passed down to new generations.
She modeled love, tenacity and grace to all those who knew her.
Jean's love of learning also led her through two decades of genealogical research following her retirement. Through her own application efforts, she was the first family member approved as a member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Jean is survived by two children, Charles Ray Johnson of Raleigh and Kimberly Thornton Scholl, her husband, Dr. Mark Scholl, and their son, Wyatt, of Winston-Salem.
Mrs. Johnson is also survived by her niece, Wendy Thornton of Raleigh, who helped lead the way in her care during her battle with pancreatic cancer.
In addition, she is survived by her sisters, Marie T. Hill (Ethro) of Pink Hill, Carolyn T. Stone (Art) of Raleigh and Sue T. Warren (Marshall) of Fayetteville; brothers, Wendell Thornton (Linda) of Goldsboro and Kenneth Thornton (Linda Joie) of McLean, Va.; and sisters-in-law, Hazel Thornton of Clinton and Mary John Thornton of Newton Grove.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, Cecil Thornton of Clinton and Richard Thornton of Newton Grove.
She is survived by many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly.
It is said that, "The measure of a life is not judged by how much you have loved, rather in the end by how much you are loved." By this standard, Jean Thornton Johnson enjoyed a rich and rewarding life.
A memorial service will be held at Hillyer Memorial Christian Church, 718 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, N.C., 27603, at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 19, 2016, with visitation preceding the service at 10 a.m.
Graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 19, 2016, at the Thornton Family Farm, 220 Emmett Thornton Road, Newton Grove, N.C.
Following this service, there will be a musical celebration of Jean's life at the Rossie M. Thornton Memorial Music Barn at the Thornton Family Farm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Thornton Family Farm Cemetery Fund, 2508 Pine Needles Road, Goldsboro, N.C., 27534.
Arrangements by West and Dunn Funeral Home, 503 Raleigh St., Newton Grove, N.C., www.westanddunn.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 17, 2016 1:49 PM