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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING DOROTHY LOUISE STRONG JOHNSON
______
HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
of the district of columbia
in the house of representatives
Friday, September 6, 2019
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of
Representatives to join me in recognizing the life and work of Dorothy
Louise Strong Johnson on the occasion of her 100th birthday.
Dorothy Louise Strong Johnson, daughter of Willie M. Strong and Mary
Lucilla Smith Strong, moved to the District of Columbia from North
Carolina on July 15, 1937. Her parents put her on a Seaboard Air Line
Railroad coach bound for Union Station to live with her Aunt, Nora
Roxanne, on 32 K Street NW.
Mrs. Johnson was born in Newport News, Virginia but spent her
childhood in Hamlet, North Carolina. In school, she was known as an
inquisitive student and an active member of the girls' basketball team.
During her last year of high school, Mrs. Johnson was unable to return
to school until November. Instead, she picked cotton and did other jobs
so that she could save money. Not only did she pick cotton in the
Hamlet area, she picked cotton as far away as Bennettsville and McColl
in South Carolina.
After moving to D.C., Mrs. Johnson worked for the United States
Bureau of Printing and Engraving from 1942 until 1974. She retired as
an assistant supervisor printing money for the Department of the
Treasury. During her tenure, she also served as an acting supervisor.
Mrs. Johnson married Ivory Johnson, and they had eight children
(Dorothy, Gwendolyn, Reginald, Wanda, William, Dora, Wesley and
Sheldon). She raised them mostly as a single parent. All of her
children finished high school, some attended and completed college,
three served in the United States Army and all were employed in civil
service occupations. During Mrs. Johnson's residency in D.C., she
maintained homes in Northwest, Northeast and Southeast. She is still
the owner of two of these homes.
When Mrs. Johnson arrived in D.C., her aunt introduced her to the
members of the 10th Street Missionary Baptist Church. After worshipping
with this congregation, Mrs. Johnson joined and became an active
member. Her activism includes being a member of the Prayer Band,
serving as a Sunday School teacher, engaging with others in Bible study
at her home and serving as an outreach evangelist. She engaged with
others in the North Carolina Club, and in later years, was named a
Mother of the Church. Upon the death of the church's pastor, she served
as the vice chairman of the search committee, which invited the
Reverend A. Michael Charles Durant to the pulpit as its present leader.
Mrs. Johnson is highly respected for her Christian walk and passion.
She remains supportive of the ministries at the 10th Street Missionary
Baptist Church.
For many decades, Mrs. Johnson volunteered at the Washington, DC VA
Medical Center every Monday. As a mother of three veterans, she was
fully aware of the needs of these men and women. When she was not
serving coffee, she could be found engaged in conversation. In her
words, ``They just needed someone to talk with and know that someone
cared.''
Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and work of Dorothy
Louise Strong Johnson on the occasion of her 100th birthday. We
recognize her for the profound impact her life has had on others and
for the love and affection she generously shares.
