Mourning the loss of two familiar faces

By Kayloni Wyatt
Managing Editor
Hayley Burgess
News Editor
Oct. 15, 2009

The UNCP community is mourning the deaths of a former soccer and tennis coach and a sophomore student.

Jerri Weber
UNCP sophomore Jerri Chloe Weber, 19, died Sept. 30 in a car accident.

The Fayetteville Observer reported that the accident happened two miles north of Lumberton. Weber struck a brick column and a tree off Powersville Road.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Oct. 2, 2009, at Reedy Branch Baptist Church with the Rev. Hilton Woodell and the Rev. Jimmy Hammonds officiating.

Weber is survived by her parents Roger and Mildred Weber, who is the Associate Director, Information Technology of Financial Aid. Her twin sister Terri is a freshman at the University, a brother, Alexander Weber; grandparents, Shirley Hardin, Peggy Hammond, Don and Cynthia Weber; and several aunts and uncles.

“Thank you for your prayers, food, flowers, smiles, and the hugs and handclasps that told us how much you care. God bless you now and forever. Our family has already been comforted by your expressions of kindness during our time of bereavement. God bless you,” Milred Weber said in a released statement.

Kenneth Johnson
Retired coach and Professor Emeritus In Health Physical Education Dr. Kenneth P. Johnson, 94, died Oct. 1, in the Lutheran Retirement Home.

Johnson came to work at UNCP in 1964 before retiring in 1980. He is a retired professor and was also the former UNCP Head Soccer and Tennis Coach.

Johnson was born in Jamestown, N.Y., on Jan. 8, 1915. He received his bachelor’s degree in education from the State University of New York at Cortland and received his master’s degree from St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. Johnson earned his doctorate in health and physical education from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.

Johnson was a veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II where he worked in physical therapy at the naval hospital.

Johnson taught at the Dexter Central School System in Dexter, N.Y., as a physical education teacher before moving to teach at Maryville College in Maryville, Tenn., for 10 years. He then taught at Oristic College in Presque Isle, Maine before coming to UNCP.

Surviving are his brother, Duane C. Johnson of Jamestown, N.Y. ; his niece and nephews, Siri Lawson, Scott Johnson and Jeffrey Johnson, all of Jamestown, David Miller of Largo, Fla. Dr. Christian Berg of Tallahassee, Fla.; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

Johnson was preceded in death by his wife, former Doris Baumann Johnson, who taught music education courses at UNCP and died Jan. 19, 1998; and two sisters: Neoma Berg and Mildred Miller.

The funeral was held Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. in the Lind Funeral Home. The burial was at the Pine Hill Cemetery, Falconer.