Catherine Macgregor Macintyre JOHNSON

Catherine MacGregor MacIntyre Johnson

Catherine (Kitty) Johnson, 95, of Lynchburg, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, in Lynchburg, after a brief illness. A resident of the Odd Fellows Home at 600 Elmwood Ave., Ms. Johnson had lived in the city of Lynchburg, and Amherst and Nelson Counties since 1941. The daughter of Clara Hale Stubbs and Wade Hampton McIntyre, Catherine McGregor McIntyre was born Aug. 11, 1913, in Marlboro County, S.C. She grew up in South Carolina and graduated from Bennettsville High School. In 1932, she was an honor graduate in a two-year teaching certificate program at the current Longwood University in Farmville, where she was also a member of Kappa Delta social sorority. Ms. Johnson obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Lynchburg College in 1957 and achieved substantial coursework toward a master's degree from the University of Virginia. Her local teaching experiences began in 1951 and included various assignments in Amherst County, where she was principal of Clifford Elementary School during the early 1960s. She later taught at Fort Hill Elementary in Lynchburg and was active in the Virginia Education Association. She was among the first teachers to participate in the federal "Head Start" program and was beloved by her students as an inspiring teacher and engaging storyteller.

She was also an avid flower gardener and bridge player and belonged to several bridge clubs in Amherst. After retirement, she traveled in Europe and the Caribbean and also toured the Alaska coast. She was a supportive member of the Amherst Presbyterian Church and later the First Presbyterian Church in Lynchburg.

Ms. Johnson's marriage to Gerald Johnson ended in divorce. She is survived by her son, Richard Neely Johnson of Lynchburg; two daughters, Clara J. Polk of Mount Jackson and Catherine J. Bailey of Arlington; stepdaughter, Geraldine J. Gholson of Holly Springs, Miss.; grandchildren, Gerald Page Brockman of Victoria, Texas, Catherine Brockman Stancombe of Charlotte, N.C., Richard Shelton Bailey of Arlington, Meagan Bethea Bailey of Portland, Ore., and Spencer Johnson McDonald, Catherine Neely Johnson and Stuart Hampton Johnson of Lynchburg; nine step-grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Her daughter, Patricia J. Brockman, and stepdaughter, Jeanne J. Harris, preceded her in death. Ms. Johnson was especially honored to have Wanda Burnett of Lynchburg as a special friend.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Odd Fellows Home Activity Department, 600 Elmwood Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24503; or Gentle Shepherd Hospice, 22712 Timberlake Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502.

A "Celebration of Life" service, with a reception and gathering immediately following, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at Tharp Funeral Home in Lynchburg.

Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, (434) 237-9424. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tharpfuneralhome.com.