By Maria-Paula

The family of Adele C. Johnson has set up a fund supporting untold stories to help the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. In respect to the tradition of the Community Foundation pioneer and backing, the mission of the gallery is to save stories that motivate. The organization will take charge of the fund.
Johnson who was a Sea Bright, New Jersey native, and an urban planning graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University, succumbed to pancreatic cancer in April 2021.
After serving as an interim director for a year, In January 2019, Johnson joined the Black History Museum staff as executive director. During her four year tenure, it is said she worked selflessly leading her lean team of three to ensure the institution gives Virginia residents a place to gain knowledge on Black contributions to Richmond and Virginia over the last 400 years.
The museum praises the rich culture of African American individuals in Virginia and offers their accounts to give a more complete and comprehensive history of their commitments to the American story.
Under her authority, the museum set up and kept a predictable timetable of public and significant presentations. It also gave expanded and upgraded programs, and became known as the ideal occasion scene – offering a chronicled and rich setting for corporate and singular occasions. This she did through the realization of projects that offer drawing in, intelligent, paramount, and fun encounters for youngsters.
Johnson, a previous leader of the Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation, is said to have completely comprehended the significance of assisting kids with fostering a strong establishment of learning.
“My mother consistently ingrained in me the significance of training and she made learning fun. Through her work at the Black History Museum, she utilized that equivalent energy to connect each kid that went to the gallery,” said Lisa Collins, Johnson’s daughter
The Adele Johnson Fund for Supporting Untold Stories, just like the museum, will be known for telling the untold, under-told, and frequently failed to remember accounts of African American history. Commitments to the asset will uphold all parts of the gallery with the goal that the substance can keep on being a reference point for Virginia’s African American history.
“My better half genuinely had confidence in the mission of the Black History Museum and it appeared in everything she did. It was her desire that those needing to respect her memory would do as such by being deliberate about their help for the museum. It is just fitting that we do everything we can to get that going,” said Bill Cooper, Johnson’s widower.
The museum’s board president, Dr. Monroe Harris, Jr. had similar feelings about Johnson’s enthusiasm for the historical center. “Adele carried a light to the gallery and her obligation to its central goal was clear in everything about. We are thankful that her family decided to respect her heritage and her adoration for the historical center by giving a space to progressing monetary help.”
The Community Foundation will deal with the fund. Sherrie Armstrong, Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond president said, “The gallery assumes a significant part during a crucial time in our set of experiences and Adele’s administration and enthusiasm for her work set a solid establishment for what’s to come. She was a rousing and empathetic pioneer who consistently put others before self, and we are pleased to help this asset to respect her inheritance.”
Johnson’s family calls for donations to be made to the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia at P. O. Box 61052, Richmond, Va. 23261 or visit www.adelejohnson.org for more information on the fund.