Trinidad and Tobago Flag
Oscar Lawrence Johnson Jr. was born in December of 1931 to parents Susie and Rev. O.L. After high school, he left Pulaski for Petersburg, Virginia, where, according to the 1950 Census, attended Virginia State College. After college Oscar entered into the military, starting his career as a Private First Class in the Army, and eventually advancing to Corporal in Korea. According to the New York City Marriage Index, in 1965, Oscar married Sheila Cynthia Joseph. Records indicate that Shelia was born in Trinidad and Tobago.
Sigma Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Dorcas was a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. On June 23, 1990, Dorcas, alongside twenty-six other women, chartered the Sigma Psi Omega Chapter in Hauppauge, NY. This sorority allowed Dorcas the opportunity to exemplify sisterhood and service through her various efforts to better the community of Long Island.
Oscar Lawrence Johnson Sr. Signature
The signature on this half of the quilt is pulled from O.L. Johnson Sr.'s World War I Draft Registration Card. According to this document, O.L. Johnson Sr. was 24 years old, living in Roanoke, working for a ministry, single and without children. It wasn't until 1927, when O.L. Sr. got married to Susie Asher and after that when he had his two children Dorcas and Oscar Lawrence Jr.
Oscar Lawrence Johnson Sr. World War I Draft Registration Card (courtesy of Ancestry.com)
Garden Club Tools
Susie Asher Johnson was deeply involved in the Pulaski community as a member of the Gem City Garden Club. The Gem City Garden Club of Pulaski was founded on April 19, 1938, for Black women of Pulaski to meet and discuss gardening and cultivating flowers. Members hosted meetings in their homes and at local churches, gathering to share meals, engage in fellowship, and build community.
Two Wedding Rings
These wedding rings, central to the quilt, symbolize the love, commitment, and connection facilitated by him. The tradition of the ring exchange originated in Ancient Egypt, thousands of years ago. Rings were intended to symbolize everlasting commitment with no start or end point. On the quilt, inside the left ring is the Reverend and his wife’s marriage register from Campbell, Virginia, in 1927, the start of their union, allowing for the creation of countless marriages.
1927 Campbell, Virginia Marriage Register (courtesy of Ancestry.com)
1927 Campbell, Virginia Marriage Register (courtesy of Ancestry.com)
Dorcas Johnson Rogers
Dorcas Rogers was born on March 14, 1929, in Pearisburg, Virginia, to parents Susie and Rev. O.L. Johnson. Dorcas devotedly served as an educator, an accomplished musician, and a cherished community leader. Dorcas graduated from Christiansburg Institute as valedictorian and earned degrees from Virginia State College and New York University. For over three decades, she inspired young minds as a music teacher at Amityville Junior High School until her retirement in 1986.
Dorcas Rogers (courtesy of The Massapequa Herald Post)
Reverend Oscar Lawrence Johnson Sr.
Reverend O.L. Johnson Sr. was born in 1892 to parents Allen and Pinkie Johnson in Thaxton, Virginia. In 1927, he married Susie Asher in Campbell, Virginia. He became a Reverend at The First Baptist Church on Magazine Street in Pulaski in 1932. Rev. Johnson was a guiding presence in countless lives, officiating weddings that united families and funerals that celebrated the lives of Black community members.
Rev. O.L. Johnson Sr. (courtesy of The Southwest Times)
Rev. O.L. Johnson Sr.'s WWII Draft Registration Card (courtesy of Ancestry.com)
First Baptist Church on Magazine Street
The Reverend conducted revivals all along the east coast and frequently visited “homes, hospitals, nursing homes, jails, and prisons.” Rev. O.L. Johnson’s lifelong, unwavering dedication to faith left a remarkable impact on the community of Pulaski.
In 1967, Rev. Johnson began planning the construction of a new church facility after arriving in Pulaski. After construction concluded, the First Baptist Church’s congregation members were welcomed into their new house of worship. Rev. Johnson’s involvement and dedication to his faith went beyond just the First Baptist Church. He was a member and past president of the Pulaski County Ministerial Association, Vice Schaffer Memorial Association, and corresponding secretary of the Valley Baptist Association.
First Baptist Church Congregation (courtesy of the First Baptist Church)
Johnson
As the Reverend of the First Baptist Church on Magazine Street, Rev. O.L. Johnson Sr. officiated a large number of Black weddings during his tenure at the church. Most Black marriages in this tight-knit community began during the ceremonies officiated by the Reverend. Rev. O.L. Johnson played a crucial role in uniting couples and their families.
Garden Club Tools
Susie Asher Johnson was deeply involved in the Pulaski community as a member of the Gem City Garden Club. The Gem City Garden Club of Pulaski was founded on April 19, 1938, for Black women of Pulaski to meet and discuss gardening and cultivating flowers. Members hosted meetings in their homes and at local churches, gathering to share meals, engage in fellowship, and build community.
Named Participant List
Corbin et al. v. County School Board of Pulaski County, VA. et al. Plaintiff List (courtesy of the District Court of the United States for the Western District of Virginia Roanoke Division)
The named plaintiff list from the 1947 lawsuit reads "Oscar Johnson, an infant, by O.L. Johnson, his father and next friend,"
At the time of the lawsuit, Oscar would have been around sixteen years old his father joining the other brave parents fighting for a better education for their children.
United States Army Corporal Patch
During his stint in the Army, Oscar Johnson Jr. served as a Corporal in Korea. During this period, the military was gradually desegregating. Black soldiers played an integral role in the Korean War, serving in positions all across the military. According to the African American Veterans Monument, by the end of the Korean War, there were 600,000 Black troops. The patch on the quilt represents Oscar’s ranking as a Corporal. According to the US Army, Corporals “serve as team leaders of the smallest Army units” and are “responsible for individual training, personal appearance, and cleanliness of soldiers.
Reverend Oscar Lawrence Johnson Sr.
Reverend O.L. Johnson Sr. was born in 1892 to parents Allen and Pinkie Johnson in Thaxton, Virginia. In 1927, he married Susie Asher in Campbell, Virginia. He became a Reverend at The First Baptist Church on Magazine Street in Pulaski in 1932. Rev. Johnson was a guiding presence in countless lives, officiating weddings that united families and funerals that celebrated the lives of Black community members.
Rev. O.L. Johnson Sr. (courtesy of The Southwest Times)
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Johnson Family
Jill Williams
Created on July 30, 2025
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Transcript
Trinidad and Tobago Flag
Oscar Lawrence Johnson Jr. was born in December of 1931 to parents Susie and Rev. O.L. After high school, he left Pulaski for Petersburg, Virginia, where, according to the 1950 Census, attended Virginia State College. After college Oscar entered into the military, starting his career as a Private First Class in the Army, and eventually advancing to Corporal in Korea. According to the New York City Marriage Index, in 1965, Oscar married Sheila Cynthia Joseph. Records indicate that Shelia was born in Trinidad and Tobago.
Sigma Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Dorcas was a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. On June 23, 1990, Dorcas, alongside twenty-six other women, chartered the Sigma Psi Omega Chapter in Hauppauge, NY. This sorority allowed Dorcas the opportunity to exemplify sisterhood and service through her various efforts to better the community of Long Island.
Oscar Lawrence Johnson Sr. Signature
The signature on this half of the quilt is pulled from O.L. Johnson Sr.'s World War I Draft Registration Card. According to this document, O.L. Johnson Sr. was 24 years old, living in Roanoke, working for a ministry, single and without children. It wasn't until 1927, when O.L. Sr. got married to Susie Asher and after that when he had his two children Dorcas and Oscar Lawrence Jr.
Oscar Lawrence Johnson Sr. World War I Draft Registration Card (courtesy of Ancestry.com)
Garden Club Tools
Susie Asher Johnson was deeply involved in the Pulaski community as a member of the Gem City Garden Club. The Gem City Garden Club of Pulaski was founded on April 19, 1938, for Black women of Pulaski to meet and discuss gardening and cultivating flowers. Members hosted meetings in their homes and at local churches, gathering to share meals, engage in fellowship, and build community.
Two Wedding Rings
These wedding rings, central to the quilt, symbolize the love, commitment, and connection facilitated by him. The tradition of the ring exchange originated in Ancient Egypt, thousands of years ago. Rings were intended to symbolize everlasting commitment with no start or end point. On the quilt, inside the left ring is the Reverend and his wife’s marriage register from Campbell, Virginia, in 1927, the start of their union, allowing for the creation of countless marriages.
1927 Campbell, Virginia Marriage Register (courtesy of Ancestry.com)
1927 Campbell, Virginia Marriage Register (courtesy of Ancestry.com)
Dorcas Johnson Rogers
Dorcas Rogers was born on March 14, 1929, in Pearisburg, Virginia, to parents Susie and Rev. O.L. Johnson. Dorcas devotedly served as an educator, an accomplished musician, and a cherished community leader. Dorcas graduated from Christiansburg Institute as valedictorian and earned degrees from Virginia State College and New York University. For over three decades, she inspired young minds as a music teacher at Amityville Junior High School until her retirement in 1986.
Dorcas Rogers (courtesy of The Massapequa Herald Post)
Reverend Oscar Lawrence Johnson Sr.
Reverend O.L. Johnson Sr. was born in 1892 to parents Allen and Pinkie Johnson in Thaxton, Virginia. In 1927, he married Susie Asher in Campbell, Virginia. He became a Reverend at The First Baptist Church on Magazine Street in Pulaski in 1932. Rev. Johnson was a guiding presence in countless lives, officiating weddings that united families and funerals that celebrated the lives of Black community members.
Rev. O.L. Johnson Sr. (courtesy of The Southwest Times)
Rev. O.L. Johnson Sr.'s WWII Draft Registration Card (courtesy of Ancestry.com)
First Baptist Church on Magazine Street
The Reverend conducted revivals all along the east coast and frequently visited “homes, hospitals, nursing homes, jails, and prisons.” Rev. O.L. Johnson’s lifelong, unwavering dedication to faith left a remarkable impact on the community of Pulaski.
In 1967, Rev. Johnson began planning the construction of a new church facility after arriving in Pulaski. After construction concluded, the First Baptist Church’s congregation members were welcomed into their new house of worship. Rev. Johnson’s involvement and dedication to his faith went beyond just the First Baptist Church. He was a member and past president of the Pulaski County Ministerial Association, Vice Schaffer Memorial Association, and corresponding secretary of the Valley Baptist Association.
First Baptist Church Congregation (courtesy of the First Baptist Church)
Johnson
As the Reverend of the First Baptist Church on Magazine Street, Rev. O.L. Johnson Sr. officiated a large number of Black weddings during his tenure at the church. Most Black marriages in this tight-knit community began during the ceremonies officiated by the Reverend. Rev. O.L. Johnson played a crucial role in uniting couples and their families.
Garden Club Tools
Susie Asher Johnson was deeply involved in the Pulaski community as a member of the Gem City Garden Club. The Gem City Garden Club of Pulaski was founded on April 19, 1938, for Black women of Pulaski to meet and discuss gardening and cultivating flowers. Members hosted meetings in their homes and at local churches, gathering to share meals, engage in fellowship, and build community.
Named Participant List
Corbin et al. v. County School Board of Pulaski County, VA. et al. Plaintiff List (courtesy of the District Court of the United States for the Western District of Virginia Roanoke Division)
The named plaintiff list from the 1947 lawsuit reads "Oscar Johnson, an infant, by O.L. Johnson, his father and next friend,"
At the time of the lawsuit, Oscar would have been around sixteen years old his father joining the other brave parents fighting for a better education for their children.
United States Army Corporal Patch
During his stint in the Army, Oscar Johnson Jr. served as a Corporal in Korea. During this period, the military was gradually desegregating. Black soldiers played an integral role in the Korean War, serving in positions all across the military. According to the African American Veterans Monument, by the end of the Korean War, there were 600,000 Black troops. The patch on the quilt represents Oscar’s ranking as a Corporal. According to the US Army, Corporals “serve as team leaders of the smallest Army units” and are “responsible for individual training, personal appearance, and cleanliness of soldiers.
Reverend Oscar Lawrence Johnson Sr.
Reverend O.L. Johnson Sr. was born in 1892 to parents Allen and Pinkie Johnson in Thaxton, Virginia. In 1927, he married Susie Asher in Campbell, Virginia. He became a Reverend at The First Baptist Church on Magazine Street in Pulaski in 1932. Rev. Johnson was a guiding presence in countless lives, officiating weddings that united families and funerals that celebrated the lives of Black community members.
Rev. O.L. Johnson Sr. (courtesy of The Southwest Times)
Click to play video