Odessa Johnson, longtime education leader in Modesto and California, dies at 86
The Modesto community is honoring the life and legacy of Odessa Johnson, a trailblazer and leader in education in Stanislaus County.
Johnson passed away on April 21 just short of her 87th birthday.
She became the first Black teacher at Modesto High School in 1963 and later was dean of education and workforce development at Modesto Junior College, setting an example for other Black educators who came after her.
After her retirement, Johnson served on the Modesto City Schools board for four terms and also served as a Regent for the University of California.
“Her legacy will continue through the countless lives she touched, the doors she helped open and the example she leaves behind,” said one tribute to Johnson.
Johnson was honored in February with the Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award. She received the award in abstentia due to health reasons.
During her lifetime, Johnson talked of growing up in segregated South Carolina and said she pursued education as her way of following King’s advice to think intensely and critically.
In a video for the recent award, Johnson said a sorority gave her a $100 scholarship to attend Tennessee State University, where the learned from professors who had written their own text books. After earning a master’s degree from Columbia University, Johnson heard about a business teacher job in a place called Modesto.
“I prayed and stepped out in faith,” said Johnson, who applied and was given the job.
Johnson said on the video that when a mutual friend drove her to Modesto High for the first time, she asked optimistically how many Black teachers were there? The friend said, “are you kidding me? They don’t have any and never have.”
Johnson was the forerunner for Black educators and teachers in Modesto and became a familiar name for students at MJC.
In later years, she stayed active in the college’s Modesto Institute for Continued Learning and continued to encourage those around her.
The McHenry Museum posted a tribute for Johnson to recognize her impact on local education. “The product of Odessa’s tireless efforts in education continue to profoundly impact our community today,” the post said.
The museum said that as a University of California regent, appointed in 1999, Johnson advocated for a medical school at UC Merced.
Andrea Pegarella, wrote in a post regarding Johnson: “She has been such a beautiful part of our growth and strength in Modesto. Our community was blessed to have her influence and passion.”
Derek Waring, an emeritus dean of counseling and student services at MJC wrote “there has never been a finer person. I was honored to have worked with Odessa at Modesto Junior College. (She was) always a person to lean on, a willing ear, a kind voice to help guide staff and students.”
This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 1:21 PM.
