OBSERVER STAFF REPORT

Dr. Esther B. Nelson-Johnson was born July 12, 1931 to Louis & Hestella (Holmes) Byrd in Hickman, Ky. She departed this life Feb. 2, 2008 in Arlington, Texas, following a lengthy illness.

Dr. Ester B. Nelson-Johnson passed away Feb. 2, 2008. She was a popular councelor at American River College. Photo Courtesy To The Observer

Living with her family in Kentucky, she spent her early years at Riverview School and later earned degrees at Kentucky State, Chapman University, and a doctorate from Nova University. She came to California in 1963 and to Sacramento in 1969.

Nelson, as she’s more commonly known, was a popular counselor at American River College for 30 years, where she inspired students to find themselves and lead productive lives.

She developed and coordinated many programs and workshops for minority and re-entry students. Suring her tenure as coordinator of the Re-entry Program, statewide recognition was obtained. She was also instrumental in expanding the evening child care program, and was a prime mover in the campus observances of Women in History and Black History Months, and was advisor to the Black Student Union. In 1987 she received the coveted American River College Patron’s Chair Award.

Nelson was also active in the community and served as Secretary and President of the NAACP, from which she received the D.D. Mattock award in 1990 for her outstanding service. She held life memberships in the NAACP and Women’s Civic Improvement Club. Recently she was honored by a former student with dedication of a window in her name in the historic church he pastors, Center of Praise Ministries.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Adele (Swede) Nelson to whom she was married almost 30 years, and who shared her community activism. Years later she married long time friend, Dr. Louis Johnson, retired vice-president of Student Services at American River College, who passed in 2002.

Nelson was well known for research on the history of her family, some of whom were active in the Marcus Garvey Back to Africa Movement. Publication of her book, Leaving On the Black Star Line, detailing their involvement, was eminent before her illness. She also published Cotton Patch Cooking. She also did research on women in the ministry, women of Allensworth, the historical Black California town, the family background of friends and the history of Kentucky State College for her 50th class reunion.

She is survived by her brothers, Louis Byrd, Jr. of Ohio,; Thomas Earl Byrd of Tenn.; sisters, Flora Byrd-Hughes of Chicago, Madeline Byrd-Carter of Ohio, a very special nephew, Gerald Smith of Texas, and many other relatives and friends.

Services were held at Feb. 9 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Hickman, Ky., and at New Hope Baptist Church in Sacramento.