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Our Families - Our Lives. Write-Link Project
Lauren B.
June 20, 2005 Going With The Flow
Offh J. has been around the block more than a few times. J. has lived
in Jonesville, Arkansas, Memphis, Tennessee, and for the last five years
Ypsilanti, Michigan. When asked about his decision to move north after
building a life in the south, Johnson said "It wasn't a hard decision."
Johnson retired from Memphis' Gas and Water Division after having worked
for thirty five years. The decision was made a 'no-brainer' by the presence
of his three children. Shortly after making the move up north, Mrs.
J. passed away. Despite her passing, J. still has strong family ties.
He said that he likes visiting his children and grandchildren and sees
them often.
Now, J. enjoys watching Good Times and The Jeffersons. He also likes
sitting on the porch when the weather cooperates. Even though J. is
content with his life in Ypsilanti, he is looking forward to a trip
down south. J. misses old friends and the familiar atmosphere. His memories
from childhood include listening to all kinds of music with friends
and the warm weather. J. has not quite adjusted to the cold Michigan
winters even though he enjoys sledding.
J. wasn't interested in participating in sports during his childhood,
but was a fan. He remembers famous names such as Jackie Robinson and
Joe Louis. Before moving north, J. also had a large collection of baseball
cards. It was a sad necessity to give them up.
Like many people of the time, J. completed grades one through eight,
and then started working. Around age twenty, J. moved to Memphis, Tennessee
where he would spend approximately the next forty years. He met his
wife to be in Memphis a few years later. Robinson laughed when asked
if he took her to a drive in movie. He says that they went for a walk
on their first date and he had to have her home by nine. After dating
for two years they were married. J. is the proud father of two daughters
and one son.
J. was fortunate enough to never experience and racism or bad treatment
in the south. He said that everyone was nice and he always liked living
right where he was.
J. was raised with strong religious values and continues to attend
the Second Baptist Church of Ypsilanti today. J. says that the people
are nice and he enjoys going there. Despite his absence at church dinners
or social events, J. goes to Sunday services weekly.
Having lived through many changing times J. has learned to go with
the flow. He told us that people are pretty much the same everywhere
he's lived and that there's nothing he would change about young people
today. He is tolerant of technology, new music, and teenagers as well.
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