Frances Cole Johnson

Mrs. Frances Cole Johnson, of Little Rock, passed on August 19, 2011. She was born in Birdeye (Cross County), Arkansas. Her elementary and secondary education was obtained through the Birdeye, Wynn, and Jonesboro Public Schools. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, Jonesboro, Arkansas. Initially, she attended college at Prairie View College (now Prairie View University) Prairie View, Texas. She later transferred to Arkansas Mechanical and Normal College (AM&N, now UAPB) and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. Her Master of Science degree in Home Economics is from Tuskegee Institute (now University), Tuskegee, Alabama. Frances Johnson completed further study above her Master's degree at Michigan State University, Lansing Michigan; University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma; and University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Frances Johnson was a dedicated educator and taught in a number of schools and communities in Arkansas. She began her career in Home Economics/Clothing and Textiles as a teacher at Eliza Miller High School in Helena. In the following years, Mrs. Johnson served as an educator in communities where her husband, Acie Johnson, was a public school administrator. From 1954-1960, she taught Home Economics and adult education classes at W.O. Field High School in Gould (Lincoln County), and from 1960-1966, she taught the same courses in Dermott at Chicot County High School. She taught math and science at Anna P. Strong Elementary School, Marianna from 1966-1972. After moving to Little Rock in 1972, Mrs. Johnson continued her career at Horace Mann Junior High and Central High School in Home Economics and Adult Living. She retired from Central High School in 1989. Frances Johnson leaves a legacy of excellence in education and exhibiting concern and support for her students. Mrs. Johnson has been active in many professional and community organizations. She served as a deaconess and in other capacities at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Little Rock. Due to her efforts of preserving history and church artifacts, Mt. Pleasant created a museum that was dedicated in 2010 as the "Acie and France Johnson Museum." She was a past president of the AM&N/UAPB Home Economics Alumni Association (now UAPB Human Sciences Alumni Association). She was an active member of the Little Rock Retired Educators Association and the Pulaski County AM&N/UAPB Alumni Association. Frances Johnson has been a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. for over 40 years, participating in local, state and national activities. She was most recently a member of Beta Pi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Chapter Sorority, Inc., Little Rock. She has received honors and awards for her educational achievements and community service. She has been instrumental in promoting the recording of the history of black educators in Arkansas. One noted accomplishment is the significant role she played as one of the retired educators in the publishing of two books: Educating The Masses, C. Calvin Smith, Editor and A Pictorial Evolution of Black Public School Administrators in Arkansas During the 20th and 21st Centuries. Jan Kearney-King's book, Gould and Its Schools: A Memoir of Race and Education in the Delta, was dedicated to Acie and Frances Johnson. Frances Johnson's husband, Acie L. Johnson, preceded her in death. Mrs. Johnson leaves a daughter, Sharron Crowder (Kenneth), nephew-son, Alvin Phillips (Tia); niece-daughter, Barbara Cole; a daughter, Linda Smith; grandson, Kenneth Crowder II; niece Carolyn Brown (Roger); and a host of other nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews; extended family members, including Alvin and Brenda Futrell. A celebration of her life will be held on Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 10 a.m. at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Daisy Gatson Bates Drive & Ringo Streets, Little Rock, Arkansas. Interment will follow at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, 1501 Maryland Avenue, North Little Rock, AR. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 29, 2011 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, August 30, 2011, 8:45-9:45 a.m., all services at the church. Arrangements by: Ruffin and Jarrett Funeral Home, 1200 Chester Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, (501) 372-1305. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be sent to: University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Foundation Fund, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, 1200 North University Drive, Mail Slot 4981, Pine Bluff, Ark. 71601. For checks, please write on the memo line, The Acie and Frances Johnson Scholarship. Online contributions to the Acie and Frances Johnson scholarship fund may be sent to http://www.uapb.edu, click on UAPB pledge drive button and follow instructions. Designate the contribution for the Acie and Frances Johnson Scholarship.