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MIDDLETOWN — "I truly believe, and this may just be me, that if God was walking around looking for disciples, someone with the patience of Job and a peacemaker like Mother Teresa, he'd pick my mom," said Rhoda Thompson. "If they were hungry, she fed them. If they needed clothes, she gave them clothes."

Her mother, Linetta Johnson, 76, of Middletown, described as a woman who never met a stranger, died on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Johnson was equally passionate about the military. Since her husband, Frank J.W. Johnson Sr., served in the Army during World War II and was active in veterans groups, she followed.

She worked her way through the ranks of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Post 131 in Middletown.

She was secretary, treasurer and eventually commander. She later held similar positions at the regional level, then set history when she became the first African-American woman to be commander of the state auxiliary.

She was named president at the 61st annual state convention in 1997 in Columbus. A few days later, in an article in The Journal, she said she was "very proud" and honored to be elected by her peers.

Susan Schoenberger, chaplain of the DAVA, said the veterans organization does not "recognize" race, sex or religion, so Johnson's race won't be mentioned in her eulogy.

Schoenberger called Johnson's rise through the local, regional and state ranks "incredible" and said she was the first — and only — state commander from Middletown. Johnson served with "dignity and great success," she said.

As commander, Johnson oversaw more than 100 DAVA units in Ohio. Interested in veterans issues, she took the time to visit hospitalized veterans and to raise money for their benefit.

She also served as a deaconess at United Missionary Baptist Church.

Johnson, the daughter of J.C. Carpenter and Claudia Brooks-Mason, is survived by five daughters: Gloria Owusu and her husband, Paul; Rhoda, Wanda and Bessie Johnson and Claudia "Kela" Davis; and one son, Frank J.W. Johnson Jr. She also is survived by 18 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at United Missionary Baptist Church, 719 18th Ave., with presentations from the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Order of the Eastern Star and the DAV.

She will be buried next to her husband at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Dayton National Cemetery, 4100 W. Third St.

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