PFC Elizabeth B. Barker Johnson Foundation

11/14/2025

09/14/2025

Governor Josh Stein proclaimed September 13th, 2025 “Six Triple Eight Day” in North Carolina. Over 8 decades later and the efforts and impacts of these tremendous, dedicated heroes are receiving the recognition they deserve.

Thank you, Governor!

07/04/2025

06/03/2025

After the Dept. of Defense removed mention of the 6888th Battalion from their website, I called on them to right their wrong and honor our servicemembers.

I've now received word they're doing exactly that and have restored some webpages.

05/16/2025

It is with great honor to announce Aniya Edwards as the 2025 recipent of the PFC Elizabeth B. Barker Johnson Foundation Scholarship.

Aniya is graduating from Elkin High School as a top-ranked member of the Class of 2025. She has excelled not only academically but as an athlete. She leaves Elkin as a 11-time State Champion Track Athlete.

After graduation, Aniya will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she intends to pursue a Pre-Law degree as a scholarship member of the Tar Heel Track & Field team.

Aniya is the daughter of Camilla and Clarence Edwards.

Congratluations, Aniya! We look forward to all that you will accomplish and the positive impact you will continue to have on the world.

05/01/2025

05/01/2025

Upon their arrival to Birmingham, England, in February 1945, the battalion inherited a mail system in severe disarray.

05/01/2025

On Tuesday, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their vital contributions during World War II. The honor, which is the highest civilian award bestowed by Congress, was presented to the family of unit commander Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams, and more than 300 descendants of the women of the Six Triple Eight were in attendance for the ceremony. Joining them were National WWII Museum Conference & Programs Manager Connie Gentry (from left), retired US Army Colonel Edna W. Cummings, and Museum Senior Curator & Director of Curatorial Affairs Kim Guise.

05/01/2025

Tuesday, April 29th, the 6888th Postal Directory Battalion was awarded a long awaited and deserved Congressional Gold Medal.

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/29/nx-s1-5380784/six-triple-eight-congressional-gold-medal?utm_campaign=storyshare&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR7-76-4WUDzA9aDQJGYKA3CaAyC4lh3pNmEJEfyPVBRLHhsLk18hyhQJ9Rqgw_aem_mgFX1XzuWzBgOaeVTd-_XQ&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social

03/06/2025

This page honors the memory of Elkin's hometown hero, PFC Elizabeth B. Barker Johnson.

Mrs. Johnson, as many knew her, was a dedicated public school teacher and public servant. She served 32 years as a public school teacher, 17 of those years as the first-ever black educator in Elkin City Schools.

Many do not know that she was also a WWII hero, serving with the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in England and France during WWII.

Yes, that “Six Triple Eight” recently featured in the movie by the same name on Netflix. In fact, one of the main characters “Bernice Baker” is based on Mrs. Johnson.

We invite you to visit our website to learn more about her amazing life and donate to support the scholarship in her honor and other public efforts to memorialize her life of service.

100% of donations will go toward future scholarships and community resources to honor her tremendous legacy.

https://pfcelizabethjohnsonfoundation.org

09/05/2020

Elizabeth Bernice Barker Johnson (1920 - 2020) not only reached the age of 100, but also made history when she served in the all-female, all-black unit in !

Born in Elkin, North Carolina, Elizabeth Bernice Barker enlisted in 1943 to the Women's Army Corps with the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all African American female battalion, after graduating from Atkins High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The all-African American female unit was sent to Europe and was responsible for sorting the backlog of mail to maintain the morale of Americans stationed there. Barker worked in England for three months and later France, where she spent most of her time serving as a truck driver.

PFC Barker was discharged in the spring of 1945. After her discharge, she attended Winston Salem State University, and once again made history as the first female to enroll at the College on the GI Bill. Four years later, with a degree in education, Barker went on to teach for 32 years, along with an additional 15 years volunteering in the Catawba County School System. Because Barker Johnson began teaching in Virginia immediately after graduating, she was unable to attend commencement because she couldn’t find someone to substitute for her. It wasn't until 2019, on her 99th birthday, that she received a gift from the school of her cap and gown, and was finally able to walk across the stage alongside the 2019 class ceremony.

Elizabeth Barker Johnson, 100, passed away August 23, 2020.

Image copyrighted to Elizabeth Bernice Barker Johnson's family.