Betty Jean Thompson

Betty Jean Burleson Johnson Thompson, affectionately known as Betty J. Johnson, passed away on August 15, 2026, at the age of 85.

Betty was born on July 13, 1941, in San Antonio, Texas, to Carrie Elizabeth Carter and James Andrew Burleson. She was raised alongside her beloved sister, Barbara Jean Burleson Payton. She graduated from St. Peter Catharina School in 1959 and went on to study floral design at St. Philip’s College and San Antonio College.

Betty was the mother of four children. She later married Johnny Thompson. She spent more than sixteen years working for the California Department of Motor Vehicles, where she made history as its first Black janitorial employee. Betty was a woman of deep faith, a devoted member of Paul Quinn African Methodist Episcopal Church, and known for her generous heart, her gift for crochet, and her love of cooking and entertaining family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carrie Elizabeth Carter and James Andrew Burleson; her husband, Johnny Thompson; her sister, Barbara Jean Burleson Payton; Solomon Edward Johnson, father of her children; and her sons, Clayton James Johnson and Michael Anthony Johnson.

She leaves to cherish her memory: her son, E. D. Johnson (Teresa); her daughter, Stephanie Bell Jackson (DonMichael); her grandchildren, Shawana Chiwick (Michael), Marc Williams, Jamaica Johnson (Carlos), Jerranica L. Johnson, Isaac D. Johnson, Joshua E. Johnson, and Clayton Johnson Jr.; her great-grandchildren, Jayden, Justin, Mikayla, Jasmine, Shantelle, Aryanna, and Andrew; her nieces, Phaedra “Faye” Siddiqui and Michele Payton; her dear friend, Brenda Wright; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, church family, and friends.