Obituary of Doris Lee Johnson

Born in Goldsboro, NC on April 10, 1927, Doris was the only child born to the late Nathan Jones and Bessie Budd. Both of her parents were musically inclined. Her mother taught music and her father was a self taught pianist.

After the untimely death of her mother, Doris was raised by her paternal          grandmother who taught her the many hymns and spirituals of the old south.

She moved with her father and grandmother to New Jesrey and at the age of ten began taking piano lessons and later studied the organ. At age fifteen, she became the junior organist at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, Riverton, NJ.

During her high school years, she became interested in directing choral music and formed her first group of choral singers known as the Na Dell Lee Ensemble, followed later by the Varitone, a Capella Choral Society. In 1980, the Expressions    Chorale was formed and in 1997 the Alpha Vesper Choir. 

Doris was educated at Temple University, Burlington County College and Clarke  University of Music. She has taught both piano and choral, conducted workshops and had been involved with many choirs and seminars.

Doris loved to travel, animals and was a long time member of St. Paul Baptist Church of Cinnaminson, NJ where she sang with the Sanctuary Choir.

Doris had worked for NJ Bell Telephone Co. as a service representative; appearing as a speaker, demonstrator and a hostess at many open houses and company exhibits. After nineteen years with the telephone company, she became an interviewer with the NJ State employment service. Following, she was employed for twenty-three years with the Burlington County Board of Social Services as a fraud investigator, court representative and liason to the office of the prosecutor.

Upon retiring in 1992, she becamea volunteer lecturer with B.A.B.E.S. (Beginning, Alcohol and Addictions Basic Education Studies) program speaking to children in Burlington and Camden County elementary schools. This is the program designed for the prevention of substance abuse and helping to develop positive living skills.

Doris is survived by her cousins, Barbara Cambell, Mary Comegys, Sharon Whitney and Ronda Still, also a host of very good friends, Virginia Carter, Mary Wood, Dianne Robinson, Bernice Hazell, Reola Spencer, the McKinzee family and all the good friends and family of the years, the Expressions whom I’m so proud of and enjoyed through the years.