PFC Elizabeth B. Barker Johnson Foundation

Elizabeth Bernice Barker Johnson (1920 - 2020) not only reached the age of 100, but also made history when she served in the all-female, all-black unit in !

Born in Elkin, North Carolina, Elizabeth Bernice Barker enlisted in 1943 to the Women's Army Corps with the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all African American female battalion, after graduating from Atkins High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The all-African American female unit was sent to Europe and was responsible for sorting the backlog of mail to maintain the morale of Americans stationed there. Barker worked in England for three months and later France, where she spent most of her time serving as a truck driver.

PFC Barker was discharged in the spring of 1945. After her discharge, she attended Winston Salem State University, and once again made history as the first female to enroll at the College on the GI Bill. Four years later, with a degree in education, Barker went on to teach for 32 years, along with an additional 15 years volunteering in the Catawba County School System. Because Barker Johnson began teaching in Virginia immediately after graduating, she was unable to attend commencement because she couldn’t find someone to substitute for her. It wasn't until 2019, on her 99th birthday, that she received a gift from the school of her cap and gown, and was finally able to walk across the stage alongside the 2019 class ceremony.

Elizabeth Barker Johnson, 100, passed away August 23, 2020.

Image copyrighted to Elizabeth Bernice Barker Johnson's family.