Dr. Diane Wynn Johnson

Obituary For Dr. Diane Wynn Johnson

Dr. Diane Wynn Johnson was born on January 19, 1960 in Murfreesboro, North Carolina to the late Clarence Napoleon Wynn Jr. and Mary Ella S. Wynn. Diane gave her life to Christ at an early age while worshipping at First Baptist Church of Murfreesboro, NC

Diane received her early education in the Hertford County School System, attending Riverview Elementary, Murfreesboro Middle and graduating from Murfreesboro High School. She continued her education at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina where she completed two degrees- a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. Diane continued her education and completed her doctorate in Science Education from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC.

Diane began her science teaching career in 1986-1989 at Northampton County High School West in Gumberry, NC where she was also named teacher of the year while serving there. She moved to Burlington City Schools and taught science at Williams High for one year. She then moved to teach at Hillside High School on Concord Street (1990) and continued when the new facilities were built on Fayetteville Street. She taught various levels of chemistry for twenty years (1990-2010), along with teaching biology at NCCU, before transitioning to a new position as Instructional Facilitator for Hillside High School, and as a Teaching and Learning Coach for Durham Public Schools. She was currently working at Hillside High when her health took a sharp decline in January 2020 with the diagnosis of a rare and advanced stage neuroendocrine cancer.

She also served the Hillside Community outside of the classroom. She spent several seasons coaching girl’s softball, was known to regularly be at sporting events supporting the school concessions, found excitement as part of the planning team for Senior graduation activities each year, and loved her co-workers as family as they spent hours together each week. Diane took personal responsibility for training and supporting many early career teachers that sought to teach high school science courses. She provided mentorship and training that encouraged their success in the classroom and overall. She also showed her students of the past and present a type of encouragement that many have found irreplaceable. She tutored students regularly, developed and led summer STEM enrichment programs at NCCU, UNC, and NCSU, prepared students to succeed on standardized testing, and supported her students outside of the classroom through attendance at their school and community activities. She couldn’t go nearly anywhere on the weekends in Durham without hugging one of her students.

Dr. Johnson, as many know, was also extremely proud of her family. She spoke regularly of the expertise of her siblings, former spouse and children- proud of her son, Michael, who established his own painting service in the footsteps of her dad; proud of Vicki, who does research for community health; and proud of the successes of her siblings, nieces, nephews, and other family around the country. She loved to travel with her family- picking up almost any time she could for a road trip to the beach, helping with school projects like a NC lighthouse tour, or a quick flight to Michigan to see her grandkids for holidays or their basketball and soccer games.

Her love of creating excitement for science flowed from her naturally, making her the go-to family member for fun science projects that inspired her younger family members to stay curious. She leaves to mourn her two children: a daughter Dr. Vicki Johnson-Lawrence (Bryon), three grandchildren, Jasmine, Sydney, and Bryon II who currently reside in Dubbo, Australia, and Her son, Michael F . Johnson II in Durham, NC. She also leaves her former spouse Michael F. Johnson to whom she was married for 23 years. She also leaves four siblings: Bobby Wynn (Lyndelia) of Fayetteville, NC and their children, Dr. Ashley Wynn of Oakland, CA, Stephen Wynn of Austin, TX, and David Wynn (Adina) and David Jr of Charlotte, NC; Carl Wynn (Kim Boone) of Murfreesboro, NC; Clarence Michael Wynn of Lanette, AL and his children, Dante Wynn of Ft. Mitchell, AL, Derek Wynn and De’Andre Wynn of Columbus, GA, and Jadyn Wynn, currently in the United States Air Force; and Robin W. Pyles (Julius) and their daughter Nicole of Durham, NC. In addition, she has one aunt, Sylvia Stephenson and her son Bill of Bronx, NY. She also leaves many family members, friends and coworkers whom she loved very much. We extend our gratitude to the many of you who have supported our family during this time. We thank you for honoring Diane with us, and look forward to a fuller Memorial Celebration of Diane tentatively on July 11, 2020 in Durham, NC (location is to be confirmed).

With Love,

The Family and Friends of Dr. Diane Wynn Johnson