83S20310 BK-D
By: Dutton H.R. No. 25
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Lela and Vernon Johnson of Houston are celebrating
their 66th wedding anniversary on July 27, 2013, and they may
reflect with joy on a rewarding and lasting relationship that began
with a storybook romance; and
WHEREAS, At age six, Vernon Johnson was attending school in a
one-room schoolhouse in rural Louisiana when a young girl named
Lela Davis caught his eye; though unspoken for many years, his
affection for her never wavered, even after he was transferred to
another school in the fourth grade; in 1943, the pair were reunited
when they ran into one another at a grocery store shortly before
Mr. Johnson was to be deployed to serve in World War II; he summoned
the courage to ask for her address, so that he could write to her
from wherever he was based; and
WHEREAS, Through his three years of military service,
Mr. Johnson sent Miss Davis innumerable love letters, including one
in which he expressed his wish to marry her but asked that she
postpone her answer until he had returned; when he was released from
active duty, their courtship officially began as they finished
school in Natchitoches, Louisiana; out of what was once a
friendship between schoolmates, true love blossomed, and the two
were joined in matrimony at the home of Mr. Johnson's parents in
July 1947; and
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson moved to Houston in 1949,
eventually settling in the Pleasantville neighborhood; they became
the proud parents of four daughters, Barbara Johnson-Jefferson,
Linda Johnson-Roy, LaVern Johnson, and Monica Johnson-Smith;
through the years, they have seen their family grow to include a
son-in-law, Michael Smith, as well as five grandchildren, Kim Roy,
Toni Jefferson, Morgan Smith, Meagan Smith, and Bryan
Bostick, an honorary granddaughter, Kristin Stapleton, four
great-grandchildren, Alicia and Sharelle Jefferson and Tiffany and
Jordan Roy, and a great-great-granddaughter, Toni-Logan Williams;
and
WHEREAS, Respected members of their community, Mr. Johnson
worked at Weingarten Grocery and later operated a remodeling
business, while Mrs. Johnson was employed as an EKG technician; now
enjoying retirement together, both are longtime congregants at
Mt. Olive Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Although much has changed in the world since they
exchanged vows on that special day in 1947, this inspiring husband
and wife have remained true to their promise of lifelong
commitment, and it is a pleasure to join their admiring circle of
loved ones in honoring them at this time; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby congratulate Lela and
Vernon Johnson on their 66 years of marriage and extend to them
warmest best wishes for continued happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. and Mrs. Johnson as an expression of high regard
by the Texas House of Representatives.