2019 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 258
BY SENATORS CARTER AND PETERSON
A RESOLUTION
To commend Virginia Johnson on the occasion of her 100th birthday.
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the citizens and the Senate of the Legislature
of Louisiana have learned that Virginia Johnson, a lifelong resident of the Carrollton area
of New Orleans, Louisiana, will turn one hundred years old on June 14, 2019; and
WHEREAS, Virginia Johnson, the daughter of Pearl Hayes Johnson and James
Joseph Johnson, is the oldest child and only girl in the family; and
WHEREAS, she started elementary at James Weldon Johnson, but was so far ahead
of her class, she transferred to McDonogh #24, and was only ten years old in the sixth grade,
she then went to Hoffman for junior high, and attended McDonogh #35 during high school
on Julia and Rampart Streets; and
WHEREAS, against her mother's wishes, Virginia Johnson joined the United States
Army in 1943 and served her state and her country for twenty-eight months; and
WHEREAS, she was sent to Des Moines, Iowa, where they were measured for
uniforms, had classes, learned the rules and regulations, and it was determined if they were
strong enough to serve; what is now referred to as basic training; and
WHEREAS, she was a typist in the United States Army and stationed at
headquarters; she was Private First Class Johnson but was shortly promoted to a corporal
who directed parade units; because she was the shortest one in the group, she had to help
keep the line straight, when they rounded a corner, she would keep them in step; this is why
the people of Des Moines always wanted them to be in the parades -- they kept a straight
line, so when they had a parade, Virginia was called out with that unit; and
WHEREAS, after her military service, Virginia Johnson attended and graduated from
Xavier University in 1950 with a bachelor of science degree; and
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WHEREAS, she was a teacher at Carver High School for thirty-one years, teaching
general science, physics, and chemistry; she loved chemistry and got all of the students at
the school to take her chemistry classes; and
WHEREAS, while waiting for the Carver school to be built and for her assignment
there to begin, she worked at her church, St. Joan of Arc, helping to raise money to build the
new school with a group of elderly ladies; at that time she was the youngest one in the group,
walking all over the state of Louisiana getting donations; the school was completed in 1958
and was almost fully paid for; and
WHEREAS, she also worked at Charity Hospital as a dietician; she stated that she
worked right along with the other dieticians, "I had a floor I was responsible for and they had
theirs, and my work there opened the way for many other Xavier students".; and
WHEREAS, after her retirement, Johnson continued to work to support her church
parish, she taught religious education and was the cantor at the 4:00 p.m. Mass; and
WHEREAS, a group of women approached her who wanted to start a choir, and she
graciously welcomed them; although she wanted to continue to sing the Catholic hymns, the
group had other ideas and wanted a gospel group, so they "gospelized" the traditional hymns;
although Johnson no longer sings with the choir, she is still active in the Ladies Sodality
group and enjoys the Sunday gospel Mass; and
WHEREAS, the strength of our communities in Louisiana and the overall vitality of
American society depend in great measure upon smart, brave, strong, and determined
trailblazers like Virginia Johnson; and
WHEREAS, it is most appropriate that a sincere and heartfelt measure of
commendation be extended to this remarkable and extraordinary woman and that her success
and years should be acknowledged, honored, and celebrated.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Virginia Johnson on the occasion of her 100th birthday celebration.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Virginia Johnson.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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