31-01-2025
Katherine Johnson: the woman, the mother, the icon
LEWISBURG, WV (WVNS) – Katherine Johnson was born on August 26th, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
Back at that time, Greenbrier County did not offer public schooling for African-American students past the eighth grade. That did not stop Johnson's love of math. After graduating college, Johnson became a school teacher in Marion, Virginia.
After having her three daughters, a relative told her about open positions at the all-black West Area Computing section at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Langley laboratory.
59News sat down with her youngest daughter, Katherine Moore, to learn more about the woman that was not only a mathematician figurehead, but a loving 'super mom.'
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'She was a very feminine, very stylish, made her clothes back in the day, taught us to sew. She was a fun mom. She modeled exactly what she wanted us to do,' said Moore.
Growing up, Moore and her sisters were not quite aware of the strong impact her mother had on history.
Moore said her mother stayed humble and would sit down and have a conversation with anyone.
'I just enjoyed the fact that what you saw is what you got. She was the same with everybody. She treated everybody the same. Her intelligence did not send people off,' said Moore.
Moore and her sisters were also raised in Greenbrier County. She said her mother loved the state and always had encouraging words for those around her.
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You can find copies of Katherine Johnson's book on Amazon, and Audiobooks. You can also pick up a copy at the Greenbrier Historical Society.
Moore and her sisters believed their mother put the stars in the sky while helping NASA reach them.
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