Albertha Rose Johnson

Albertha Rose Johnson, 86, of Leesburg, VA, died Tuesday, January 29, 2008, at Loudoun Nursing & Rehabilitation in Leesburg, VA. Born on June 12, 1921 in the township of Crozierville, Liberia. She was the daughter of the late Joshua Porte and the late Everlina (Williams) Porte. Mrs. Johnson was a Midwife and the owner and operator of a health clinic in Mamba Point, Monrovia. Her education through high school in Crozierville, enabled her to enter nursing school at Phebe Hospital, Gbanga, Liberia and the School of Nursing, Monrovia, Liberia. Upon her graduation in 1942, Bertha (as she is affectionately called) took her diploma and joined the staff of Baptist Hospital as a nurse midwife. She moved when the hospital was closed and the new Maternity and Child Welfare hospital at Bassa Community was opened. She labored tirelessly and compassionately until she resigned in 1964. During her years at both Baptist and Maternity Center hospitals, she took advance classes in midwifery science at Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts(TNIMA) School of Nursing, Bertha excelled and was awarded a grant to take advance medical techniques at Firestone Medical Center, Habel, Liberia. Bertha opened her own 12 bed, 6 person staff maternity clinic in 1964, becoming the first midwife in the nation to own and operate such a facility. This angel of mercy delivered thousands of babies diligently and gently from 1942-1985, when political unrest in the county caused her to come to the United States. In December 1943, Bertha and Tobias K. Johnson, Sr. both devoted Episcopalians, were married and raised 5 biological and 21 adopted children. Ninety percent of them earned diplomas and degrees in technical and professional areas of studies all over the world. Bertha was a member of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Liberia. She is now a member of the St. David Episcopal Church in Ashburn, VA. Mrs. Johnson moved to the US in 1988. Mrs. Johnson was predeceased by her husband Tobiah K. Johnson in 1990, and a son Carlton M. Johnson. She is survived by her children, Tobias K. Johnson, Jr. of Atlanta, GA, Dwight Johnson of Rocky Mount, NC, Joshua F. Johnson of Providence, Rhode Island, Magdalene Obaji of Leesburg, VA; Catherine Edwards of Trenton, NJ, Anita Merchant of Long Island, NY, Gottlieb M. Bright of Bowie, MD, Dwight D. Porte of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; her sister, Augusta Porte of Providence Rhode Island; seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends. Friends may call at St. David''s Episcopal Church, 43600 Russell Branch Parkway, Ashburn, VA 20147, where the family will receive friends from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM Friday, February 8, 2008. Funeral services will follow at St. David''s Episcopal Church at 10:00 AM Saturday, February 9, 2008, Father Emmanuel Johnson officiating. Interment will be held in St. David''s Cemetery in Ashburn, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mrs. Johnson''s memory to St. David''s for the Bromley Mission in Liberia. Arrangements are being handled by Loudoun Funeral Chapels.