Gladys Poole Johnson was born August 18, 1948, in Sylacauga, Alabama to Johnnie Poole, Sr. and Mavis McKinney Poole. She was the youngest of eight children.
Attending Akron University, Gladys earned her Associate Degree in Executive Secretary as well as her Bachelor of Science in Education. She also went on to earn her master’s equivalent at Ashland University. Gladys used this knowledge while working for the City of Akron to train Akron Public school CBE students and supervise secretarial staff as an Administrative Assistant/Secretary from 1973 to 1978. She was also a Business Instructor in Wayne County for some time. Years later, she entered the Education field as an Intensive Business Education Coordinator at the Akron Board of Education for Kenmore High School from 1985 to 1995. In 1995, Gladys obtained a new position at the Akron Board of Education becoming the Cooperative Business Education Coordinator for Buchtel High School until her retirement in 2005.
Gladys loved her family. On May 24, 1969, she married the love of her life, Richard K. Johnson, Sr. To this union, Kindra Michelle Johnson and Richard K. Johnson, Jr. were born. Later she received the joy of her one and only grandson, Kerry Jordan Johnson.
In her free time, Gladys loved to make greeting cards and do photography. She also was the recipient of many awards: Black Woman of Excellence Award in Education, Distinguished University of Akron Alumni from the College of Education, as well as 3 mini grants for the Vocational Program at Kenmore High School. Gladys also helped to develop the Kenmore High School Mentoring Program from 1990-1991, the Vocational Counseling Program for the Summit County Children’s Services Board at well as the Community Events Calendar for the ZTO Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in 1984.
Gladys was a woman of great ambitions, great achievements and a life well lived – she will be truly missed by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her parents and all but one sibling.
Gladys leaves to cherish her memory to her husband, Richard K. Johnson, Sr.; children, Kindra Michelle Johnson and Richard K. Johnson, Jr.; grandson, Kerry Jordan Johnson; and brother, Eddie (Diane) Poole of Sylacauga, Alabama.