Mother's Pearls: A Book of Remembrance

By Willie Mae Johnson

There are reasons why we were created or born to live on this earth at such a time as this. It is incumbent upon every individual to discover their purpose for living and to live up to whatever obligations are theirs and theirs alone. As a parent, it is your God-given responsibility to provide the best life instruction to your children, no matte

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Release date: Dec 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638377795

Willie Mae Johnson

Willie Mae Johnson is a loving daughter, caring parent, loyal friend, joyous grandparent, and happy soul. Her greatest passion is her creativity, which she expresses through decorating, entertaining, and hosting. Willie Mae's love for children led her to begin two organizations: Sons of Thunder that teaches young boys to become world class leaders and Daughters of the King that teaches young girls to know their worth. During her career as an educator, Willie Mae encouraged and motivated children to be their best selves in who they are created to be. All she does is in service to her heavenly Father.

Book preview

Foreword

I

t was an honor and a privilege to be asked by my sister Willie Mae to write the foreword to Mother’s Pearls, a pocketbook of our mother’s pearls of wisdom. It was with great forethought by Willie Mae to put Mother’s Pearls of wisdom on paper so that others may get a glimpse of an amazing human being who happens to be our mother.

As a preschooler, I often told my sisters and brother that I picked Mother to be my Mommy. I described it the only way a preschooler with a limited view of the world could. We would sometime have family visiting from out-of-town and the farthest distance away seemed to be Texas. So, that’s the distance I used to tell my siblings how far I flew, looking along this long line of women for someone that I would choose to be my mother. (Yes, I was able to fly.) And when I saw Frances standing in this line of women, I said, That’s my Mommy. I just knew that she would be the best mommy for me.

Thinking back to that particular time, even upon casual observation, I could tell she was decisive, a woman with a plan. Tall in statue, a graceful stride in her walk, an easy bright smile with beautiful white teeth. She was wearing a short stylish hairdo. I fell in love. She was everything to me!

This possible could have been the young woman Mattie was looking at when she chose Frances for her mother. Mattie still has those earrings Mother is wearing.

CIRCA 1948

She proved to be everything that I thought she would be. Mother worked hard but she knew how to have fun too. Her sense of humor was wonderful and it took us years to understand some of the things she would say. Especially around Christmastime, she did a lot of spelling of words that motivated us to learn read. She would take us to the State Fair in Shreveport, LA; go on picnics; go to the movies and have ice cream on the way home. Summer months, she allowed us all to sleep together with her on our screened-in front porch if we stayed very quiet. When we went outside, we had to stay in our own yard behind the fence. (The neighbor- hood children that grew up with us still laugh about that.) If we played ball in the streets, Mother was right there with us. Our world was very small because she kept us close. But, we had lots and lots of fun with each other!

Upon my entering first grade, we moved into our home that Mother built with her own hands with the help of two of her brothers. We loved that house because she built it for us. Mother was like a Mommy-bird. Nesting came natural to her. She was always working tirelessly - keeping us protected, fed, clothed, and safe.

Being scared of almost everything and one to cry easily, I stayed as close to Mother as one could with a house full of children. Watching her closely as she did everything: combing her hair; brushing her teeth; applying her makeup; dressing; her talking to strangers (me without staring in their mouths, which you would receive swift reproach from her if she caught you listening to grown folk business. We were taught not to stare at grown folks when they talked among themselves.) To me, she knew everything!

As we grew into teenagers and young adults, Mommy-bird was there, teaching us life skills. In business, she stressed, always write down important things; make a list; count your money correctly; now she wanted you to speak up and look into faces when taking care of business. Always get your receipts.