Verta Mae Donaldson Johnson, age 96, went home peacefully to glory on Friday, November 21, 2025.  Ms. Johnson was born on July 20, 1929, in Chatfield, Texas to the parentage of Henry H. Donaldson and Elizabeth Crockett Donaldson. She was the older sibling of her younger sister Bobbie Jean Foster.

The family moved to Dallas, Texas where she attended school in the Dallas Independent School District and graduated from Lincoln High School. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in social students and secondary education from Bishop College in Marshall, Texas.  Ms. Johnson later graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a Master of Arts in elementary and secondary education.  Her love for Christ compelled her to complete spiritual studies at Dallas Baptist University, Dallas Theological Seminary, and participate in Bible Study Fellowship for seven years.

Ms. Johnson worked in the Dallas Independent School District for over 40 years, retiring in 1996. She taught high school economics and American history and was the girls’ basketball coach at Sunset High School.

Throughout her life, her active faith sustained her. She was a long-time member of Greater New Zion Baptist Church where she served as director of the Baptist Training Union and was a member of Mission 2.  Ms. Johnson was involved in Sunday School since she was a child and served as the teacher of John Chandler’s Sunday School class at Greater New Zion for more than 50 years.

Ms. Johnson became a member of the Kappa Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. in 1962, joining her sister, Bobbie, who joined in 1959. She was active and served as president, vice-president, second vice-president, third vice-president, collegiate chapter sponsor and youth auxiliary sponsor.

She also volunteered with the Dallas Retired Teachers’ Association, Booker T. Washington/Lincoln High School Alumni Association, and many other organizations in her community.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister.

Her legacy will continue through the lives of her nephew, Donald E. Foster, grand niece Elizabeth Foster Jenkins, great-grand niece Khloe E. Jenkins, and dear cousins Brenda Crockett-Wingfield, and Delores Martinez. She also leaves a host of other relatives and friends to cherish her memory.