Esthermay (Cornwell) Johnston

Esthermay Cornwell Johnston was born to Luretta May Bare and Elmer Edgar Cornwell in Okmulgee, Oklahoma on May 13, 1919, the youngest of their five children. She passed away peacefully on April 28, 2024, just two weeks short of her 105th birthday. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at Woodlawn Cemetary in Timpson, Texas; a celebration of life will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at University Christian Church in Austin, Texas.

Esthermay was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, church member, and teacher during her incredible 104+ years of life. Esthermay loved serving her community and spending time with her family. She was happiest when organizing gatherings for friends and loved ones, tending to every detail. She cared deeply about tradition, honoring the good in others, and bringing people together.

During the Great Depression, Esthermay’s family moved to Beaumont, Texas to be near extended family. After graduating from Beaumont High School in 1936, she attended Lamar Junior College, where she received an associate’s degree in 1938. She worked for a year as a medical lab technician before deciding to pursue her bachelor’s degree at Stephen F. Austin Teacher’s College in Nacogdoches. In the spring of her first year, “Sunshine,” as she was known on campus, was elected “Miss Daisy Mae” for the Sadie Hawkins event—“by a large margin,” according to the local paper. This honor required a photo shoot with the charming campus newspaper photographer, Everett Johnston. Esthermay and Everett were married for 54 years, until Everett’s passing in 1996. Esthermay and Everett had one daughter, Mary Lu, who embodies Everett’s creative spirit and Esthermay’s tenacity.

Esthermay graduated from Stephen F. Austin Teacher’s College with a degree in English and began her teaching career at Nacogdoches High School. Soon after, the young couple moved to Timpson, Texas, where Esthermay taught multiple grades during World War II. Ever dependable, when the Timpson band director was drafted, Esthermay was drafted to supervise the high school marching band. Before moving to Dallas in 1954, Esthermay and Everett made lifelong friends and cherished memories in Timpson.

Esthermay spent the remainder of her 30-year career teaching sixth and seventh grade language arts and social studies in the Dallas Independent School District, primarily at Margaret B. Henderson Elementary School. She loved her students and her students loved her. Well into their 80s, Esthermay’s students continued to call “Mrs. Johnston” on the phone to chat or come by for a visit. She cared about them personally and was always glad to hear about the adults they grew to be. Esthermay touted her approach to teaching as focusing on “the whole child,” wanting her students to become well-rounded individuals. Esthermay told stories about her students well into her second century.

Esthermay was a lifelong member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In her over 40 years at Rosemont Christian Church in Dallas, Esthermay accepted various leadership roles in the church. She held “nearly every” office on the Christian Women’s Fellowship Board, organized dinners and receptions (with her signature punch recipe), gave dozens of showers and chaperoned choir tours, often working alongside her older sister, Ruth. Esthermay was incredibly honored to be the first woman ever named Elder Emeritus at Rosemont. Later, Esthermay was named Life Elder at University Christian Church in Austin.

Esthermay moved to Austin in 1997 to be close to her family. She volunteered at Great Oaks Elementary School, where she was honored as Volunteer and Mentor of the Year.

Esthermay is preceeded in death by her parents; her husband Everett Johnston; her brothers, Robert, Paul, and Glen Cornwell; and sister, Ruth Kirsch. Esthermay is survived by her daughter, Mary Lu Johnston and spouse Ted White; her beloved granddaughters, Virginia Johnston White and Madeline Johnston White; and many treasured nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for donations to the University Christian Church Stipend at Brite Divinity School (https://brite.edu/memorials-and-honoraria) or to the M. Elizabeth Dey Scholarship Fund at the Disciples Divinity House, University of Chicago (https://ddh.uchicago.edu/giving/give-a-gift/).