On the path…History
January 14th, 2007Most of my primary and secondary education took place in Vicksburg, Mississippi; Jett Elementary, which was torn down during the riverboat gambling hustle in the early 90’s, and Warren Central High School.
One class I always enjoyed was History but the end of the year subject material bothered me. I began to notice that History class always ended in 1963.
This was baffling because, although I was in a 2nd tier learning track (a euphemism to be sure) even I could figure out that history OBVIOUSLY continued. Surely SOMETHING happened after 1963!
Seriously, I wish I was making this up. But every history class ended with this statement;
“And then President Kennedy was shot and killed by a lone gunman in Dallas Texas.”
“The End.”
“Have a good Summer. See you next year.”
All of a sudden filling the missing years of History took a backseat. It was Summer!
We’d run out of class throwing bits of last minute notes as confetti and Walkman destroyed mix tapes as streamers. Metric barge loads of mindless MTV & HBO awaited!
Sadly, I confess, it was college before I figured out what REALLY happened during those missing years of the 1960’s and particularly the Civil Rights movement. Even then it was from a PBS special instead of history class. I learned a lot from that PBS mini series though and it touched me deeply. I cried, then I was infuriated, and then I figured out why it was in Mississippi’s best interest to end history in 1963. Those were hard, terrible events to own up to and look at; much less develop a dialog about. I wonder if it’s still that way?
Now I knew who Martin Luther King was; but the day reserved in his name was only mentioned as a calandar formality during my Mississippi Public Education attendance. Back then it was an optional Holiday; at least for Warren County Schools. This meant that it was business as usual for me but Herb had the day off since he worked for the Federal Government.
Calandar logistics aside, I guess I could go on how much I need to learn about Martin Luther King. Instead, I’d like to introduce a remarkable African American woman who I just learned about last week. Surely a woman influenced by Mr. King.
Her name was Mrs. Phyllis Johnson.
Last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending the memorial service for Mrs. Johnson at Agape International Spiritual Center in Culver City.
The following is the obituary as printed in the service bulletin.
The writer was unlisted so I want to make clear, the obituarist was someone other than myself.
“Phyllis Louise Shy Lewis Johnson was born May 24th 1930 to Serena & Edward Shy in Richmond Indiana. Graduated from Richmond High school and from the local Business College.”
“She Married Robert Lewis and this union produced one daughter, Cheryl. She commuted and worked at Wright Patterson Air force Base in Dayton, Ohio, in Accounting. She then worked for Perfect Circle in Richmonnd, until 1961.”
“Phyllis was a “Daughter” of Ray of Light Tmeple, Elk Lodge #305 in Richmond, IN. In 1962 Phyllis relocated to Los Angeles, CA Where she met and married Leon Johnson, a certified contractor with the state of California. She worked for Occidental Life Insurancce as a Senior Accountant.”
“She served as 1st Vice President and President of Occidental West Toastmistress Club. In the mid sixties she worked as a Comptroller for Pasadena Unified Scool District.”
“In 1979 Phyllis and Leon purchased Buckingham Palace (a liquor store/ club/ offices), La Brea Disco Liqour Store and Chevron Mini Mart. Phyllis was also a Director in Mary Kay Cosmetics she won a pink Cadillac and numerous awards. In 1984, Phyllis started her cosmetics company called LaKasha Cosmetique, named after her grand daughter Kasha.
years later she joined New Spirit Naturals cosmetic and health care system.”
“Phyllis served on the Board of Directors of Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Local Chapter. She held the positition of secretary, Treasurer, and President , for almost 20 years and served on the National Board of Directors for approxiametely 10 years.”
“She was ordained a Minister, Reverend Phyllis Johnson, by minister O.C. Smith of City of Angels. In 1997 she joined Morinda Inernational (Noni) and keeping with her namesake, “Queen of Multi-Level Marketing”, excelled to Double Diamond Pearl. She is in the Founders Club for Morinda and served with her husband on the Advisory board for many years.”
Phyllis Johnson everyone. Someone it feels like I’ve met but she passed before I had the chance.
An American Woman who was happy doing her gig. What more is there?
Here’s to the hope that people continue to see even BROADER the similarities rather than differences in humanity. Here’s to the common thread that exceeds race and religion.
Happy Martin Luther King Day.
Thanks for checking in.
Stephen A. Thomas