Pauline Copes Johnson, an Auburn resident who discovered she was a great-great-grandniece of Harriet Tubman and dedicated her life to educating the public about her Aunt Harriet's contributions, has died.
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Gallery: Pauline Copes Johnson over the years
Pauline Copes Johnson, great-great-grandniece of Harriet Tubman, front, visits the newly restored Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church during its community reopening June 22 in Auburn. Copes Johnson is with her two daughters, Deidre Johnson Stanford, left, Ursula Johnson, right, and Karen Krieger, center, secretary to the Harriet Tubman Home Inc. board.
Pauline Copes Johnson, 96, the great-great-grandniece of Harriet Tubman, listens during the ceremony for the community opening of the Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church in Auburn Saturday.
Musical theater actor and singer Connie Fredericks-Malone, right, greets Harriet Tubman descendant Pauline Copes Johnson after performing a capella during the Harriet Tubman Day ceremony at the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn.
Harriet tubman descendant Pauline Copes Johnson, left, is greeted by state Assemblyman John Lemondes during the Harriet Tubman Day ceremony at the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn.
Pauline Copes-Johnson, great-great-grandniece of Harriet Tubman, attends the Harriet Tubman bicentennial service, 'Knowing Harriet Tubman-Past, Present, and Future,'at the Harriet Tubman Memorial AME Zion Church in Auburn.
Harriet Tubman's great-great-grandniece Pauline Copes Johnson, center, and family members look on as Auburn firefighters work the scene after lightning struck and started a fire in the bell tower of the historic Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church on Parker Street. The church hosted Harriet Tubman's funeral in 1913 and is now part of the national park named in honor of the abolitionist and American icon.
Pauline Copes Johnson, the great-great-grandniece of Harriet Tubman, receives applause after speaking during a naturalization ceremony at The Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn.
Pauline Copes Johnson stands at the front door of her Parker Street home in Auburn.
Pauline Copes Johnson pictured in her Parker Street home in Auburn.
Pauline Copes Johnson sits in the piano room at her Parker Street home in Auburn.
Pauline Copes Johnson, the great-great-grandniece of Harriet Tubman, smiles proudly after the unveiling of the Harriet Tubman statue during the opening ceremony of the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn, N.Y., Nov. 13, 2018.
Harriet Tubman relatives, from left, Ursula Johnson-Woods, Pauline Coppes Johnson and Paulette Johnson listen during the opening ceremony for the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn.
Mary Cuthbert gives a bouquet of flowers to Harriet Tubman's great-great-grandniece Pauline Copes Johnson during the opening ceremony for the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn.
Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation Rose Harvey, left, and Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul celebrate with Harriet Tubman's great-great-grandniece, Pauline Copes Johnson, after the ribbon cuttiing to officially open the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn.
Pauline Copes Johnson, 90, the great-great-grandniece of Harriet Tubman, stands before the rendition of the Harriet Tubman statue during a press conference Tuesday. The statue will sit at the entrance of the Equal Rights Cultural Heritage Center.Â
Pauline Copes Johnson, the great-great-grandniece of Harriet Tubman enjoys the unveiling of a rendition of the Harriet Tubman statue during a press conference Tuesday. The statue will sit at the entrance of the Equal Rights Cultural Heritage Center.Â
Artist Brian Hanlon talks with Pauline Copes Johnson, Harriet Tubman's great-great-grandniece, after a press conference about the Equal Rights Cultural Heritage Center and statue of Harriet Tubman. Hanlon has been commissioned to create the statue.
Government reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on X @RobertHarding.
Robert Harding
Government and politics reporter
