New York Jets legend Darrelle Revis shares a fond memory of the late Betty Wold Johnson, mother of Woody and Christopher Johnson.
On Friday, Betty Wold Johnson, the mother of Woody and Christopher Johnson, passed away. She was 99.
The New York Jets announced the family matriarch’s death Friday evening via the organization’s official website.
In addition to her matriarchal duties, Betty was a philanthropist and contributor to healthcare and education, especially throughout the New York/New Jersey area.
Her death brought out love and support from various former Jets and individuals closely associated. One such man is Darrelle Revis, who could not help but share a fond memory of the woman of the hour.
Sept. 23rd, 2012 Week 3 against the Dolphins I tear my ACL in the 3rd quarter. As I’m leaving the locker room the first person I was greeted by is Betty Wold Johnson. At the lowest point of my career she happen to share some words of encouragement. May you Rest In Peace. @nyjets
— Darrelle Revis (@Revis24) May 8, 2020
“Sept. 23, 2012, Week 3 against the Dolphins, I tear my ACL in the third quarter,” Revis tweeted. “As I’m leaving the locker room, the first person I was greeted by was Betty Wold Johnson. At the lowest point of my career, she happened to share some words of encouragement. May you rest in peace.”
Obviously, Revis was not alone. Jets’ all-time leading rusher Curtis Martin brought a tremendous perspective to the news.
“There are very few people in this world who live to 99,” said Martin. “And I’m sure if you go back and look at everything she did for other people, you could probably write a book on her from a philanthropic standpoint… She had such a charitable heart and a charitable way about her.
“She was just such a wonderful woman.”
Former Jets quarterback Chad Pennington also chimed in on the life of Betty Wold Johnson.
“To me, two of her greatest qualities were humility and approachability. Ms. Johnson was such an approachable and humble lady,” said Pennington, the No. 18 overall selection in the 2000 NFL Draft who led the club to the postseason three times. “When I think of her, I think of her as The First Lady of the Jets. I think of Ms. Johnson as nothing but first-class with how she treated people, how she carried herself and how she represented herself and her family.”
Betty called Minnesota home during her early years and eventually married Robert Wood Johnson III, the grandson of one of the original founders of Johnson & Johnson. Johnson III died in 1970.
In 2008, Betty donated $11 million to the New Jersey Performance Arts Center. She also supported the Princeton Public Library, the Nature Conservancy of New Jersey and the Museum of Art.
