Mrs. Elzena Kitchens Johnson

Elzena Kitchens Johnson, age 101, died Monday, April 18, surrounded by her family in Terry, Mississippi. Born September 25, 1914 in Copiah County she was the daughter of the late William Kitchens and Lula Kitchens. Visitation is from 5:00 until 8:00 pm on Thursday, April 21 at Chancellor Funeral home in Byram. Services will be at the First Baptist Church of Terry at 2 pm on Friday, Dr. John Pace officiating, with visitation beginning at noon and burial at the Terry Cemetery. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Terry where she taught many children in the kindergarten program. She was very active in her community serving on a number of Boards and wrote a weekly column in the Hinds County Gazette. After learning to swim at age 50, she then taught hundreds of children to swim after becoming a Certified Red Cross Instructor. She was a Senior Olympian, competing in three National Senior Olympics, and winning seven medals for swimming including three Gold medals. At age 85, she was elected alderman for the Town of Terry and served diligently until 98. Mrs. Johnson served as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in 2012, was recognized as the oldest delegate in attendance, and presented the Mississippi Delegate vote count on national TV. Mrs. Johnson was the recipient of many honors and awards including the National Women’s Democratic Association inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, elected Official of the Year by the Mississippi Federation of Democratic Women in 2010, named a Mississippi Ageless Hero in 1999 and honored again two years later for community service, inductee to the Mississippi Senior Sports Hall of Fame, recipient of the Martin Luther King Award from the Little Bethel Church, and the Grand Marshall of the Terry 2015 Christmas Parade. The Town of Terry twice honored her by designating an “Elzena Kitchens Johnson Day” for her community spirit and achievements. She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Clements, son, Terry Johnson, grandchildren, Kathy Demarais, Steve Clements, Lisa Gaye Johnson, Gary Johnson, Robin J. Hicks and Scott Clements, seventeen great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and caregiver Rosie Lee Miller. She is preceded in death by her husband Daniel Johnson and son Glen Johnson. Memorials may be sent to: Town of Terry, PO Box 327, Terry MS 39170