Elizabeth Randolph Newell (Betty) Johns, most recently of Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge in Charlottesville, died peacefully there on January 17, 2013, surrounded by her loving family after a period of declining health. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on January 21st.

Born in Newport News on September 2, 1926, Betty was the daughter of William Talman Newell and Helen Woolfolk Newell. After graduating from Newport News High School, she attended Sweet Briar College for a year before enrolling in the Cadet Nurse program at the University of Virginia, where she received her R.N. in 1947. There she met the love of her life, Benjamin Irving Johns, whom she married the following year.

After a few years in the Fredericksburg area, they moved to Alexandria, where Ben taught at St. Stephens School and, prior to having a family, Betty worked as a public health nurse. After moving onto the campus of Episcopal High School in 1958, Betty assumed the additional duties of being a Master's wife, which she performed in the most gracious manner, often playing the role of surrogate mother, counselor and consummate hostess. Betty later returned to her nursing roots serving as loyal assistant to long-time friend and surgeon, Dr. John Hoyle.

After 31 years at E.H.S., where Ben was Head of the Science, Master and Coach. In 1989, they retired to Orange where they devoted themselves to work at St.Thomas Episcopal Church, the Food Pantry, Red Cross, and most devotedly as grandparents to their growing family. They also engaged in an active social life with new friends and bridge partners. Devoted to one another, Betty was predeceased by her husband only three months ago.

A nurturer and engaging friend to all, Betty is survived by their four children: Mary Page Johns Sullivan Charlottesville; Elizabeth Newell Johns Ferguson and husband, Richard, of Germantown, TN: Benjamin Irving Johns, Jr. and wife Deborah of Washington, DC, and William Randolph Johns and wife Christine of Reston, and their ten grandchildren: Elizabeth Randolph and William McLeod Sullivan; Martha Page Ferguson Burke and Harrison Smith Ferguson; Benjamin Tucker Johns, Bowman Bates Johns, Gibson Waterman Johns and Gussie Thayer Johns; and Lucy Grace Johns and Henry Randolph Johns. She is also survived by her brother, William Talman Newell, Jr. and wife Mary of Mathews, Va.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the "Go Bo Fund c/o Ben Johns,1633 29th Street, Washington DC 20007 or the Scholarship Fund of St. Georges Independent School, 1880 Wolf River Blvd., Collierville TN 38017.