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GREENSBORO -- Marshall Johnson wasn't surprised when his wife, Beverly, showed up at the Harry B. Caldwell Service Class at First Baptist Church. She knew where to find him early on Sunday. Johnson, who joined the church nearly 59 years ago, has been a fixture in that men's class for several years and taught the class for 12.

"I thought maybe she wanted to hear the lesson, but she said she didn't," Johnson said. "She said she would stay a little while."

There was an air of something special about to happen. "I took some cookies that I had baked for the class," Beverly Johnson said.

Class President Jack Edgerton welcomed members and guests, made a few other remarks and -- to Marshall Johnson's surprise -- turned the class over to Beverly Johnson.

She reminded the class that this day, Sept. 7, was her husband's 85th birthday, and she had come to present him a special gift -- one that would be meaningful to him, the Caldwell class and the church. "I wanted something special that he couldn't buy," she said later. "He buys everything he needs."

The class was presented a book -- no ordinary book, but one that members of the Caldwell class and keepers of church archives can cherish forever.

The book contains 46 of the Sunday school lessons that Marshall Johnson taught in a class named after a beloved friend and mentor. It also represents at least 200 to 300 hours of work that Beverly Johnson spent transcribing and formatting the book on a computer, getting friend Jackie Wilson to proofread it, and getting it printed.

"I worked on it in the evenings when I knew that he would be doing something else," she said. The book -- "Teaching Through the Years" -- doesn't cover all of the years or all of the lessons that Johnson taught but selected lessons taught between Feb. 6, 1966, and Dec. 28, 1975.

She had only 10 copies of the book printed initially. "We print more as we need them," she said. More than 60 books have been given to friends as they heard about it and wanted a copy, she said. "The book is so beautifully done," Marshall Johnson said.

Beverly Johnson said transcribing the book from his notes wasn't an easy task, especially without her husband knowing. Her expertise in computers, developed over a 35-year career working in business, was crucial to her being able to compose the lessons and add photos in an attractive format.

The book also contains a picture of Marshall Johnson and a list of positions he has held in the church, a list of all 90 members of the class through the years and a notation of the 19 teachers who have led the class at various times.

Time has taken its toll on the class, which at its peak had more than 40 members and now has about 15 active members.

"We have 24 on the roll," said Harvey Hart, 91, a charter member of the class.

Yet, the quality of the teaching remains tops in Johnson's estimation. He seldom teaches any more but says "I stand ready in case they need me." Several men, including the late Harry Caldwell's son Robert, 68, take turns teaching the class.

"I started as a substitute teacher," said Johnson, a retired investment broker. "I was the youngest member of the class when I started in there. Mr. Caldwell meant so much to me. I had stage fright when I first started. But I no longer have a problem speaking in public."

Johnson said he purchased three sets of Bible reference books to use in formulating lessons.

Johnson graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill, and did additional study at Columbia Business School, the Wharton School of Business and the University of Wisconsin.

Johnson said that class bears the name of his mentor and the best Sunday school teacher he has known. "After Mr. Caldwell passed away (in 1980), I suggested that we should honor him by naming the class after him," Johnson said.

Hart said that Johnson is "a good teacher; he puts together a good lesson." Robert Caldwell also is a good teacher, Hart said. "He sounds a lot like Harry when he is teaching."

The "service" class originally was established for church greeters, ushers and others who had duties when Sunday school opened and couldn't get to a regular class on time, Hart said. For a few years, the class met at the Masonic Temple on Market Street and earlier at Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home.

Harry Caldwell started teaching in the late 1930s at the urging of the Rev. J. Clyde Turner, pastor, said Robert Caldwell, who has been teaching at First Baptist for 38 years. "My father came here from Ohio in 1930. He and my mother started in the insurance business in 1934." Robert Caldwell runs the company established by his parents.

"My mother (Margaret Caldwell) taught Sunday School for many years. I also teach in the class that my mother taught. In fact, my mother wrote out all of her lessons, and I sometimes use some of the things from Mother's lessons," he said. "It is such an honor to teach some of the same ladies my mother taught."

Johnson's mother also was a Sunday school teacher when he was growing up in Raleigh.

He doesn't have a favorite lesson among those he has taught. "I like all of them," he said.

Johnson is still applauding his wife for pulling off the great surprise that morning. But she wasn't able to stay and hear the lesson.

Beverly Johnson had to hurry on to her own church, First Presbyterian.

Contact Bob Burchette at bburchette@triad.rr.com