Services for Roberta Duckworth Johnston, of Brookhaven, are 2p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, at Brookhaven Funeral Home Chapel on NatchezDrive with burial in Rosehill Cemetery.

Mrs. Johnston, 88, died Nov. 21, 2009, at Silver Cross Home inBrookhaven. She was born in Brookhaven on Oct. 1, 1921, to Dr. C.L.Duckworth and Esther Hartness Duckworth.

Roberta’s father served as the Mississippi State Veterinarianand moved the family to Greenwood, where she met and married M.L.Johnston. Following his Air Force tour of duty in World War II, thecouple moved to California where he was employed with ContinentalAirlines and she with Western Union. Once they retired, theJohnstons returned to Brookhaven, and after Mr. Johnston’s death,Mrs. Johnston moved to The Inez. She became a cheerful andinspirational friend to her fellow residents and a public servantto the community.

In 2007, the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commercepresented Mrs. Johnston the Soap Box Award for her outstanding workin promoting the community, particularly King’s Daughters MedicalCenter and Habitat for Humanity.

At King’s Daughters Medical Center, Mrs. Johnston wisely guidedthe institution as chairman of the board and displayed exemplaryleadership of the KDMC Auxiliary giving impetus to establishing thegift shop whose proceeds generously benefited the hospital. Asboard president of Silver Cross Home, Mrs. Johnston sawconstruction of that new facility completed. Her commitment toWilling Hearts Circle led her to volunteer selflessly as neededthroughout the medical center.

Mrs. Johnston became executive director for Lincoln CountyHabitat for Humanity in recent years and her dedication andorganizational skills held that group on course. Families in ourcommunity enjoy home ownership of decent, affordable houses todaydue largely to her disciplined direction.

Mrs. Johnston served the Lord through involvement in theministries of First Baptist Church, notably as director of an adultSunday school department and as a former choir member. She assumedlocal, district and state leadership positions in WMU always with aheart for missions.

She loved and served her community and enhanced it with herlife. The quality of her days here translated into value for herhometown.

Preceding her in death were her parents; and her husband, M.L.Johnston.

Survivors are a cousin, Patricia McEwen, of Columbus; and adevoted friend, Edna Sones, with whom she shared a sisterhoodrelationship.