Barbara Johnson

Obituary of Barbara Johnson

Barbara Anne Johnson (70) entered into rest at Holston Valley Medical Center Emergency Room from a sudden heart attack on Friday October 22.  She was preceded in death by her father, Vernon Howe, her mother, Arlene Cole Howe, and her brother Richard C. Howe.  She is survived by her husband, James (Jim) W. Johnson, and her family cats, Merlin, and Ming.

Barbara was born in Rochester, NY and moved to Kingsport as a teenager when her father was transferred to Kingsport with Eastman.  She graduated from Dobbyns Bennett High School and received a BA degree from East Tennessee State University in journalism and communications. 

She began her career as a reporter for the Loudon County News Herald.  She later returned to Kingsport where she joined the City of Kingsport serving as the curator for Allandale Mansion and later in the Public Works Department.  Following her work with the city she opened and managed a travel agency in Colonial Heights.  She closed the agency in 1992 and joined her husband, Jim, for his assignment in Rochester with Eastman Chemical Company.  While there she worked as the Customer Service Manager for the Lord and Taylor’s department store in Perinton, NY.  In 1994 they moved back to Kingsport and Barbara worked part time as a Boutique Sales Consultant for Stein Mart in Johnson City.

In her spare time Barbara worked continually as a volunteer with various organizations.  She began working with the Kingsport Theater Guild as stage manager in the production of Fantasticks upon her return from Loudon.  This is where she met her husband Jim, who was the technical director for that show.  She continued with the Theater Guild eventually becoming its president where she developed a plan to take the guild from near bankruptcy to many years of prosperity.  Barbara and Jim continued their love of theater, becoming supporters thorough out the years of Barter Theater and other area professional theaters.  Her leadership skills were enhanced when she attended the first class of Leadership Kingsport.  Barbara found purpose in volunteering for various organizations.  These included Small Miracles Therapeutic Riding Center, Preston Forest Garden Guild, serving as president of the Kingsport Women’s Investment Group, Girls Inc., Netherland Inn Association, and Women’s Shelter.  She also hosted foreign exchange students in their home for over 15 years.

Barbara always had a love for animals.  In the 1960’s when Barbara moved to Kingsport with her parents, her father, who was an equestrian with the army, promised that she could have a pony in Kingsport.  That promise was never realized until after his death when she announced to her husband, Jim, that they were going to get a horse.  After purchasing their first horse and re-learning how to ride, they purchased a second horse named Estee Lauder, since the first horse, Maggie May, had picked Jim as her favorite.  Estee and Barbara made a great team which led to over 15 years of horseback riding, show competitions and equestrian gatherings.  Barbara served as the president of the East Tennessee Walking Horse Association and managed two of their annual shows in White Pine, TN.

Through the years Barbara has been a leader, supporter, participant, loving wife and great friend.  Her wit, her wisdom, her caring nature, her leadership, and her love will be greatly missed by her family and friends. 

A celebration-of-life will be held at 7:30 pm on Friday November 5 at First Broad Street United Methodist Church Chapel.  The family will receive friends before the service at 6:30 pm.  The family has asked that memorial contributions be made to either Barter Theater, PO Box 867, Abingdon, VA 24212 (https://bartertheatre.com/support/), or to Petworks Animal Services, operations fund, 3101 East Stone Drive, Kingsport, TN 37660 (https://petworkstn.com/donate-to-help-operations).

Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport, is serving the Johnson family.

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Friday
5
November

Receiving of Friends

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Friday, November 5, 2021
First Broad Street United Methodist Church
Kingsport
Kingsport, Tennessee, United States
Friday
5
November

Celebration of Life

7:30 pm
Friday, November 5, 2021
First Broad Street United Methodist Church
Kingsport
Kingsport, Tennessee, United States