Marie Goodman Hunter Johnson was a trailblazer whose talents enriched and uplifted her community, from the theater stage to the classroom. Her legacy of excellence and service, both within Virginia and beyond, endures following her death Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at age 95.

Johnson was born on Oct. 16, 1929, and was adopted by Fred and Florence Goodman. She spent her early life growing up in Richmond and Petersburg, graduating from Armstrong High School and Virginia State University.

Johnson had a passion for song that began in her youth in the church and shaped her life and careers. For decades, she taught music and speech classes at John Marshall High, retiring from teaching in 1991. She also served as part of the first group of African-American teachers at William Fox Elementary School after it was desegregated.

When not instructing students, Johnson also sang in various Richmond churches and furthered her education at Columbia University’s Teachers College, the University of Virginia and the College of William & Mary.

Johnson’s musical talents led her to explore acting, leading to a theatrical career with over 30 performance credits to her name over decades of work. This included the 1956 production of “The Common Glory” in Williamsburg, where she broke ground as its first African-American cast member.

Johnson’s stagework saw her perform at the McCarter Theatre in New Jersey, the Tanglewood Barn Theatre in North Carolina, Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery and the Caux Palace Theater in Switzerland.

Johnson would earn a wide range of awards for her performances, including Phoebe Awards from Richmond outlets for leading performances in multiple productions and the Liz Marks Award for Ongoing Contribution to Richmond Theater in 2016.

Johnson was preceded in death by her husband Andrew Blair Johnson on Jan. 8, 2021.

She is survived by her daughter Kelley, granddaughter Tiana, nieces Calcine Harris and Valerie Harris-Jones, nephew Kyle Jones, a godchild, extended cousins and many other family, friends and students.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of South Richmond, on 1501 Decatur Street, with Dr. Dwight C. Jones, senior pastor, officiating, followed by interment at Maury Cemetery.