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Altheada LaVerne Johnson

December 4, 1955 – May 27, 2010

Altheada LaVerne was the fourth of five children born to the union of Welton Johnson and Lillian Cooper Johnson White.  LaVerne, as she was known to her family, had many different faces.  Our own “Dr. Johnson,” the herbalist, had a wicked sweet tooth, especially for dark chocolate.  She was kind-hearted, with a distinctive laugh, and she loved to plant juicy kisses on your cheek.  LaVerne could be open-minded, yet very opinionated.  Despite her health difficulties, she never stopped working and giving of herself in the service of others, serving on the board of directors of the Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) Family Alliance and volunteering at the International Center for the Disabled (ICD).  LaVerne was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for over twenty-six years; she was active in public service throughout her membership, serving to the best of her ability.  One of LaVerne’s favorite movies was “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and she often reminded her nieces and nephews to “do all you can, while you can.”  That speaks volumes about her character.

LaVerne was also very stubborn, but kept her positive outlook when many would have thrown in the towel.  When doctors were stumped, she continued researching and insisted they do the same.  Finally, doctors put a name to the disease that affected her, two siblings, and her father – Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) – a disease rarely found in people of African descent.

Altheada, as she was known professionally, was a licensed dietician, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Queens College in 1978 and a Masters Degree in Nutrition from Hunter College of the City University of New York in 1982.  Altheada began her career as a school lunch manager with the New York City Department of Education; she then became a dietician for the WIC program (a federally funded program for women, infants, and children); and eventually became a nutritionist for the Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.  When health issues prevented Altheada from working, she volunteered at the International Center for the Disabled (ICD) during periods between her own physical therapies, where she provided nutrition counseling – even starring in several nutrition awareness videos.  Altheada gave voice to ICD’s disabled artists by organizing them into a group and sponsoring art exhibits.  Now, the work of disabled artists is displayed throughout the building.  Some of the artists are also displaying their work in other places. 

In April of 1984, LaVerne married the love of her life, Fred Johnson, making her Mrs. Johnson-Johnson. Together, they battled life with VHL for twenty-six years, traveling the country and the world as VHL ambassadors.

Altheada also answered calls on the VHL hotline, providing information and comfort to families new to VHL. Since 2002 she chaired the Hotline committee, coordinating the volunteers who answer the hotline calls.  She served on the Board of Directors for 14 of the 17 years since the founding of the organization, and represented VHLFA as a speaker at conferences all over the United States and in Johannesburg, South Africa.

LaVerne leaves to grieve her passing: her husband Fred, her mother Lillian White, and her sisters Christine and Joyce.  In addition, LaVerne was loved and supported by her brother and sister-in-law, Ben and Theresa, brothers-in-law Jerome and Steve; nephews Brandon, Keith and Jason; and nieces Tony and Stacy.  She will be remembered, loved, and missed by a large extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins and many, many friends.

 

Going Home

By Anonymous

 

Go rest now precious one, your life in eternity has just begun.
Now you can walk, your legs are brand new.  All of heaven is now in your view.

Look all around, it’s all in your sight, there will never be another dark night.
Flowers and jewels, the street of pure gold, and all of the things that have been told.

I can just imagine the smile on your face as you walk all around in that beautiful place,
Greeting our loved ones as you walk along, while singing heaven’s most beautiful song.

This is so very hard, but it will all be okay; it isn’t goodbye, we’ll see you one day.
We love you and we’ll miss you and at times it will be tough, but as with everything, God’s Grace will be enough.