Elberteen Campbell

There are those who are born to be incomparable. Like a star against the night sky, the life they lead shines—leaving those blessed to witness it in silent awe.

On August 6, 1932, a midwife in Homer, Louisiana assisted in the delivery of one such individual. Elberteen was the only child of Christella and Turner Benson Penton. Her name, meaning "bright and noble," was a perfect reflection of the woman she would become. Though small in stature, Elberteen fully embodied the strength and dignity of her name.

Affectionately called "Teen," she was the pride of her tight-knit childhood community in Homer, where she spent her early years on a small farm. In the 1940s, Turner Benson moved north in search of better job opportunities and found employment with General Motors in Detroit, MI. He later transferred to St. Louis, where Teen and her mother joined him when she was 14.

Teen graduated from Sumner High School in 1950. After graduation, she married Vincent Johns. Though brief, their union blessed her with her first child, Dennis.

Later, Teen was introduced to William “Bill” Campbell by mutual friends. Like Teen, Bill had also attended Sumner High School, though they hadn’t crossed paths during their time there. Teen’s shy and soft-spoken nature beautifully complemented Bill’s larger-than-life personality. Their 46-year union began on April 1, 1956—Easter Sunday. Together, they raised three children: Dennis, Valerie, and Stephanie.

Teen accepted Christ at an early age. In 1958, she was baptized at Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church, where she remained a faithful member for over 65 years.

She served as a dedicated employee of the Missouri Department of Family Services for more than 30 years, forming many lifelong friendships along the way. While working full-time, she also attended Saint Louis University in the evenings, eventually earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies—an achievement that gave her great pride.

Teen enjoyed traveling, going on several cruises, and taking group trips to Las Vegas and other adventures, including visits to casinos, dog tracks, and more. After retiring, she dedicated her time to volunteer work: rocking orphaned infants born with addictions, teaching adults to read through a literacy program, quilting for babies and daycares, donating regularly to food pantries, and planting a vibrant flower garden each summer.

She loved reading, solving word puzzles, and painting by numbers. Teen also prioritized her health, eating well and exercising regularly by walking in her neighborhood and at the mall. She was an animal lover and cherished her pets—two dogs, Lady and Prince, and a bird named Woodstock.

After Bill’s passing in 2002, Teen downsized her home and, for the first time, lived alone. A few years later, she chose to move into an independent retirement community—wanting to be “in charge” of where she lived and to avoid burdening her children. She deeply loved her family and friends and was extremely proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Elberteen Campbell departed this life on Thursday, July 3, 2025, after a long illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and many beloved family members.

She leaves to cherish her memory her son, Dennis Johns (Karen); daughters, Valerie Davis (Ed) and Stephanie Johnson (Perri); grandchildren, Durriel, Alisha, Dorian, William (Ikwo), Perri Jr. (Dominique), Taylor, Aja (Hasan), Theodore (Christin), Jerome, Jackie, and Melodie; great-grandchildren, William Ryan, Sarai, Maxwell, Rori, Analysa, Gabriel, Greyson, Aubrey, Zunaeyra, Sahar, Kaizen, Chane, Jaylah, Aiden, Jakobi, Ahmir, and Ava; and great-great-granddaughter, Zariah. She is also survived by a host of loving relatives and dear friends.