Wilhelmenia Delores Chandler Best Johnson, 92 of Charlotte, peacefully entered her eternal rest on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at Charlotte Square Assisted Living.  She was born on April 6, 1928 to the loving parents Rev. Joe Chandler and Mrs. Mellie Williams Chandler of Salters, SC.  She was raised in a Christian home and accepted Jesus as her Savior at a young age as a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church and Bethlehem Baptist Church.

Mena, as she was affectionately nickname by family, began her education in Salters and later moved to neighboring Greeleyville, SC.  A proud graduate of Morris College in Sumter SC, she received a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education and obtained additional education certificates from South Carolina State College and Georgia Tech.

Wilhelmenia moved to Aynor, SC, to teach and met and married the late George Coleman Best, a fellow teacher and assistant principal.  She joined St. Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church and immediately became an active member: singing in the Senior Choir, teaching Sunday School and helping coordinate Christmas and Easter programs.  She was also a member of the legendary St. Elizabeth kitchen ministry and was best known for her low country rice, candied yams and sour cream and cream cheese pound cakes.

Wilhelmenia continued teaching and inspiring students at both Levister Elementary School and Aynor High School-always believing in her students and working diligently with them.  In addition to teaching, she earned her bus driver's license and drove students to the Aynor/Conway Career Center.  She was also active in the Kingston Lake Young Women's Association and held office in the South Carolina Baptist Women's Association.

In 2000, she married the late Nolan Johnson, Jr. and moved to Santee, SC and became a member of Lovely Hill Baptist Church in Holly Hill, SC.  Wilhelmenia went on to serve as President of the Conwy Chapter of the Morris College Alumni Association and reigned as Miss Morris College Alumnae Queen.  She was a proud member of the Conway Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Throughout her life, Wilhelmenia loved socializing with friends and family, gardening, being around young people and trying new entrepreneurial ventures.  She was a spiritual guide to many and bestowed the values of loving God, life and education.

She is survived by her children, Della Best Cauley, Gail (Harold) Sours and Henry (Charlena)Best; three grandsons, Justin Cauley, Coleman Williams and Bernard Best; one granddaughter, Ashley Best; two great-grandsons, Cameron Alston and Justus Cauley; beloved older brother and inspiration Frank Chandler and two beloved younger brothers, Lawrence (Dessie) Chandler and Alexander Chandler; the entire family of Nolan Johnson; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, sorors and church members who will forever cherish her memory.