A Life Story

Elizabeth Ann (Betty) Johnson, 88, of Savannah, Georgia, joined Jesus and many of her beloved friends and family in heaven on Sunday night, June 21, 2026. Betty was born on January 8, 1938 in Longbranch, New Jersey, to Chester and Helen LaCour. In 1945, they moved to Savannah. After her parent’s divorced, her mother remarried in 1949 and moved to Eatonton, Georgia, where Betty graduated from high school. For many years, she lived with different family members between Eatonton, Savannah, and Tybee Island. All that began to change on May 9, 1957, when she accepted a ride by Herman Johnson to a revival service at Morningside Baptist in Savannah. Ten months later, on March 15, 1958, they were married in the same church. Given a stable family life, Betty flourished. She loved being a wife, mother, and homemaker and made sure that every holiday and special occasion was celebrated. She loved to cook, decorate, and host church socials. Together, she and Herman ministered to neighborhood widows, regularly invited others to church, and actively sought to help those in need. They established their first home at 2406 New York Avenue, where they lived for more than 40 years, raising two sons in whom they instilled a love for Christ and His church. Betty earned her nursing license in 1971 and worked for many years at Candler Hospital and as the school nurse at Richard Arnold High School. But she found her calling serving in the deaf ministry at Morningside and later at Southside Baptist. Betty was highly proficient at sign language, able to interpret sermons without a transcript and entire choir programs with flair. She organized a deaf choir, which “sang” in sign language at various places around the state, including at a Georgia Baptist Convention annual meeting. Betty became well-known throughout the city for her skills and was often called on for public events. Among her proudest moments was in 1996 when she interpreted for a GOP rally in downtown Savannah featuring presidential Republican candidate Bob Dole. It was covered live by CNN. Betty had a heart for deaf people and, in addition to interpreting on Sundays, she would provide them rides to church as well as appointments during the week. She was often asked to communicate with deaf women at the hospital during child birth. She also helped grow the ministry by teaching sign language classes. Her enthusiasm was infectious and led many of her students to commit to serving the deaf. Betty spent her final years in north Georgia near her family, but she always missed her beloved Savannah. She will be interred at Hillcrest Abbey Cemetery East beside many other Johnsons who have gone on before and whom she loved so dearly. Surviving are her sons Wayne (Lea) and David (Beth), four grandchildren Ashley Smith (Bryant), Matthew Johnson (Tia), Ben Johnson (Sarah), and Katie Lim (Lesley), and five great grandchildren (Oakley, Margaux, Clementine, Judah, and Grayson) along with her sister-in-law (Carol Johnson). She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years. “Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” Proverbs 31:31. The family will receive friends on Friday, June 26, from 12 noon until 2 o'clock in the afternoon at Gamble Funeral Service, 410 Stephenson Ave., Savannah, followed by a graveside service at 2:30 in the afternoon at Hillcrest Abbey Cemetery East, 1600 Wheaton St., Savannah, GA 31404. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Southside Baptist Church, 5502 Skidaway Rd., Savannah, Georgia 31406.