LaVerne Strickland Johnston, 83, of Columbia, died Tuesday, June 4, 2019. Born January 10, 1936, in Durham, NC, she was a daughter of the late Lonnie G. Strickland and Hilda Lynn Strickland.

Ms. Johnston graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with bachelor degrees in English and Art. For many years, she taught school in the Durham City School System. After teaching, Ms. Johnston continued her career as a business broker with Commerce Marketing. She would later go on to work with the NC DOT until her retirement. Ms. Johnston was a breast cancer survivor and selflessly volunteered to participate in a National Institute of Health clinical research project that led to the breakthrough discovery of the BRCA gene. Ms. Johnston was an accomplished artist who especially loved painting. Her greatest joys were spending time with her family and riding her horse "Blue."

Survivors include her children, Gregory Jay Johnston (Cheryl) of Oak Harbor, WA and Julie Johnston Borden (Michael) of Columbia, SC; grandchildren, Matthew Johnston, Michael Johnston (Megan), Mark Johnston, Mary Johnston, Catherine Borden, Margaret Banes Borden, and Michael Borden, Jr.; great grandchildren Noah and Ladd Johnston; as well as her sisters, Ann Strickland Jones and Sandra Strickland Large. In addition to her parents, her son, Brian Ross Johnston and her siblings, Lynn Gibson Strickland and Norma Lou Strickland Little, preceded her in death.

A Celebration of Life honoring the legacy of Mrs. Johnston will be held on Thursday, June 20th, from 2 until 4 o'clock at Hope Valley Country Club, 3803 Dover Road, Durham, NC 27707.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.