[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 78 (Thursday, June 2, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H3919-H3920]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO REVEREND DR. DOROTHY SHARPE JOHNSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to pay tribute to a 
lifelong friend, the Reverend Dr. Dorothy Sharpe Johnson, an 
accomplished pastor, educator and author who passed from labor to 
reward on 31 May 2011 after a long illness, a long illness that did not 
curtail her work.
  A native of Wilson County, North Carolina, Dr. Johnson resided in 
Matthews, North Carolina, which is near the City of Charlotte, with her 
beloved husband of more than 50 years, Retired AME Zion Bishop Joseph 
Johnson.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Johnson was the fifth of eight children born to Mark 
Benjamin and Clara Farmer Sharpe. After finishing Speight High School 
at the age of 15, she went on to earn her bachelor's degree from North 
Carolina Central University, known at that time as North Carolina 
College at Durham. Later in life, she earned a master's degree in 
religious education and a Doctor of Divinity degree from the James 
Walker Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, North Carolina, on the 
campus of historic Livingstone College, and she received a Doctor of 
Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte.
  Over the years, Dr. Johnson found many ways to serve her community as 
a public school teacher, school administrator, social worker, and even 
a seamstress. She was particularly devoted to her faith and church. In 
1979, Dr. Johnson was elected by the AME Zion General Conference to 
oversee the youth mission. During her 8-year tenure, she worked to 
build a youth retreat that was eventually named in her honor and today 
serves as many as 575 youth at a time.
  Dr. Johnson was a missionary supervisor with the AME Zion Church and 
was pastor of Indian Hill AME Zion Church in Fort Mill, South Carolina. 
Her work with the AME Zion Church took her around the world working in 
England and Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and across America as an outreach 
to her ministry. She published a great number of books that were 
inspired by her life experience and devotion to God. In addition to all 
of this, she was a devoted member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and 
the NAACP.
  Mr. Speaker, one of most profound statements I can make about this 
great American is that despite having a medical condition known as 
systemic lupus erythematosus for more than 40 years, including many 
surgeries and hospitalizations, she lived a productive life that cannot 
be surpassed by anyone. She was a good wife, mother, grandmother, 
sister, aunt, cousin, pastor, and friend. Dr. Johnson distinguished 
herself in so many ways and made a difference in this world.
  The Johnsons are the proud parents of two adult sons, the Reverend 
Anthony Johnson, pastor of St. Matthew AME Zion Church of Rock Hill, 
South Carolina; and Timothy Johnson, a civil engineer in our great 
State. And they are the grandparents of two grandchildren, Angelica and 
Derrick, both of whom are honor students.

[[Page H3920]]

  Dr. Johnson is also survived by four sisters, Barbara Jones, Trumilla 
Jones, Ernestine Wright, and Betty Coley; three brothers, Rudolph 
Sharpe, Eugene Sharpe, and a very good friend of mine, David Sharpe of 
Phoenix, Arizona.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this great 
life. We extend condolences to her husband, Bishop Joseph Johnson, 
their sons, and all of their family and friends.

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