In Memoriam

Beverly Johnston

Beverly Bartlett Johnston, 73, died Saturday, April 12, 2008, at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, where she spent her professional career as Director of the Social Work Department. Her zest for life, her passionate concern for people and her fierce determination not to miss anything kept her going, even to the last day of her life. Her memorial service will be 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, April 15, at Lake Shore Baptist Church with the Rev. Sharlande Sledge, the Rev. Dorisanne Cooper, and Dr. Robert Baird officiating. The service will be preceded by interment at Oakwood Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.

Beverly was born July 11, 1934, to Judge D.W. and Opal Bartlett, in Waco. She graduated from Waco High School and Colorado Women's College. As a young mother she went to McLennan Community College in preparation for attending Baylor University to pursue a degree in social work. She graduated summa cum laude.

She was the first social worker at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, where Beverly saw the need for social work services and began the hospital's social work department. Under her leadership, the department expanded, and through her influence, countless lives in the Waco community have been touched and thousands of needs met. She was a past president of the Texas Association of Hospital Social Workers, a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners. After her retirement she was a member of the Hillcrest Auxiliary where she served as treasurer and the President of the Quality Care Volunteer Auxiliary Board of Directors for four years.

Beverly served as Executive Director of the Community Cancer Association and continued as a board member after her retirement. Beverly received the Pathfinder Award which recognized her outstanding contributions to the community through her health-related vocation. Beverly was a charter member of Lake Shore Baptist Church, where she joined with her family in 1959.She served as a deacon, a member of pastoral search committees, a member of the Children's Center Program Board, a Care Group leader, a Sunday School teacher, a choir member, and a college leader. Most of all, she was a tremendous gift to the congregation in sharing her knowledge of social services resources in our community. She was a member of the Lake Shore Doves Supper Club for over 40 years where her sharp wit, her amazing enthusiasm and her love of being with people helped create a spirit of family among friends.

Beverly taught everyone how to love deeply. Her love for her children, her grandchildren and her new great-grandson was unconditional. They were the light of her life.

She was preceded in death by her husband P.M. Johnston; her parents, Judge D.W. and Opal Bartlett; and her son by marriage, Jeff Johnston. She is survived by her son, Bart Jenkins and his wife, Diane of Waco; daughters Janie Burnett and husband, Douglas Booker, of Waco, and Julie Jenkins, of Guthrie, Okla.; her children by marriage, Jack Johnston and his wife, Tammie of Coppell, and son, Jerry Johnston of New York City; Linda Johnston, widow of Jeff Johnston; grandsons, Jade Hunt and Justin Johnston; granddaughters; Sarah Burnett, Jennifer Jenkins, Jamie Johnston, Jenna Johnston and Lauren Burnett and fiance, Andrew Rigsby; and great-grandson, Jadon Rigsby; sisters, Barbara Martin and husband, Robbie, of Waco, and Carol Burton Haverkamp and husband, Gene of Waco; numerous nieces and nephews; her devoted and special friend, Jasper Barrett; and her beloved dog, Dolly.

Memorials may be sent to Community Cancer Association at Hillcrest Hospital, Lake Shore Baptist Church, Fuzzy Friends Rescue and Meals on Wheels.

Reproduced with permission of the Waco Tribune-Herald, Copyright 2008