Obituary

Sarah Esther Gilchrist “Sally” Johnson, 80, of Charleston, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at the Hubbard Hospice House on the Hill, Charleston.

She was born on April 29, 1945, to the late Carl K. Gilchrist and Sarah Esther Mathews Gilchrist and was a direct descendant of the first European baby born in the Kanawha Valley.

Sally was baptized and raised by her parents at Christ Church United Methodist, Charleston, where her mother was the first baby baptized at the church in 1906.

She was a graduate of Charleston High School, attended Marietta College, graduated from Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston); she further received a Masters’ Degree, plus forty from Marshall University.

Sally was a career educator in the Kanawha Valley serving in many elementary schools, teaching at Cabin Creek, Chelyan, Malden and most recently at Kenna Elementary in Charleston where she was the librarian for many years.

In the midst of her career her principal David Embrey sent her to Michigan to be trained in “Accelerated Reader”, a new reading program which she brought back to West Virginia. The Kanawha County Board of Education subsequently labeled Sally as the “Mother of Accelerated Reader in West Virginia”.

Later in her career, Sally worked with her principal Clara Jett on many government grants together, to improve reading in their school, Kenna Elementary.

Her vast intelligence, wit and innate empathy for people from all walks of life made anyone in her presence feel both special and the focus of her attention. She was the epitome of class without pretense.

Sally was known for her smile and wonderful sense of humor among her coworkers, teachers, family and friends.

She was the entertainer.

She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Wayne Leonard Johnson; sons, Christopher Mathews (Trish) Johnson and Carl Leonard “Chip” Johnson; grandchildren, Alexander Staton Johnson, Olivia Summerfield Johnson, Jackson Thomas Johnson, Blaine Leonard Johnson; brother-in-law, Mack Leroy (Vicki) Johnson; nephews, William Charles (Jennifer) Johnson and Matthew Morrison (Shannon) Johnson; niece, Victoria Ruth “Tori” Johnson; great nephews, William Joseph Johnson, Charles Michael Johnson and Ryan Wesley Hill; Extended In-laws, Mike Eakle and Beth Morrison; Special Members of the Family, Paige Wendling and Paige Rawlings, Dr. Ali Imani and Soudeh Shamshiri, their children, Cyrus and Sarah, and many lifelong friends and extended family members.

Funeral Service will be 1 p.m. Monday, July 7, 2025 at Christ Church United Methodist, Charleston with Rev. Dr. Timothy Bias officiating with music conducted by Rev. David Donathan. Burial will follow at Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston.
Friends may visit with the family one hour prior to the service at the church.

In Lieu of Flowers – the family suggest donations may be made to: Christ Church United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 884, Charleston, WV 25323.

Condolences may be shared with the family at: www.barlowbonsall.com .

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, has been entrusted with the arrangements.