23/54 PROJECT

Celebrating Black Appalachian Community

JOhnson

Reverend O.L. Johnson Sr. was a prominent figure who officiated many weddings in Pulaski for African American couples; the central imagery on the quilt square represents this. The visual symbol of two rings symbolizes Reverend O.L. Johnson Sr.’s role in bringing couples together through marriage, promoting unity and commitment. Other features on the quilt are intended to describe his wife, Susie, and their children, Oscar L. Johnson Jr. and Dorcas Rogers.

Explore the quilt by clicking on the various elements

For best user experience, use full screen mode

An interactive graphic of the quilt square. The linked information can also be found below.

Learn More About the Johnson Family

Artifacts by Family Member

Reverend Oscar Lawrence Johnson Sr.

Summary

Reverend O.L. Johnson Sr. was born in 1892 to parents Allen and Pinkie Johnson in Thaxton, Virginia, he was one of nine siblings.1 Both his maternal and paternal sides have roots in Virginia dating back well before the Civil War. His Mother, Pinkie was born in 1863 to parents Albert and Rebecca Jones in Louisa County.2 His Father, Allen was born in 1857 to parents Phillip and Tania Tamer Johnson of Campbell, Virginia.3

Official document from the US 1870 Census that features the names of families and their residence in Campbell, Virginia.
1870 Census Campbell, Virginia
Snippet of a death certificate for Pinkie Johnson from 1934 in Thaxton, Virginia. The cut out highlights Pinkie's birth date and her parents' birthplaces.
Snippet of Death Certificate for Pinkie Johnson, 1934

In 1927, Reverend O.L. Johnson Sr. married Susie Asher in Campbell, Virginia.4 The couple had two children Dorcas and Oscar Jr, who they raised in Pulaski. Reverend O.L. Johnson Sr. became the Reverend of The First Baptist Church on Magazine Street in Pulaski in 1932.

Symbolic Representation

World War I Draft Registration Card Signature

Originial World War I draft card for Oscar Lawrence Johnson whihc highlights his age (24), marital status (single), and residence (Roanoke, Va). Note bottom right corner torn off to indicate Johnson was of African descent.
Oscar Lawrence Johnson Sr. WWI Draft Registration Card (courtesy of Ancestry.com)

The signature on the left 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.5 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. One major feature of note is the bottom left corner of the Draft Registration Card is missing. In order to maintain the segregation of troops, if the registrant “was of African descent,” the draft board was to tear this corner off.6

In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the Selective Service Act, initiating the registration, classification, and potential mobilization of men to serve in World War I. The Selective Service System mandated that localities across the nation conduct their own registration of men and make assessments based on a variety of factors whether the registrants would be called to train and subsequently serve. According to the National Archives, their collection of draft registration cards totals roughly 24 million. However, “not all of the men who registered for the draft actually served in the military and not all men who served in the military registered for the draft.”7 The Selective Service for World War I was suspended on July 15, 1918.8

World War II Draft Registration Card Signature with Picture

Image of an older gentleman standing in front of a brick building wearing a suit and patterned tie gazing into the distance grinning.
Reverend O.L. Johnson Sr. (courtesy of The Southwest Times)
Originial draft card of World War II's old man's draft. Information featured for Oscar Lawrence Johnson highlighting his marital status (married) and residence in Pulaski, Virginia.
Reverend O.L. Johnson Sr. WWII Draft Registration Card (courtesy of Ancestry.com)9

Two Wedding Rings

Reverend Johnson was a guiding presence in countless lives, officiating weddings that united families and funerals that celebrated the lives of Black community members. The two wedding rings, featured on the center of 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.10 On the quilt, inside the left ring is the Reverend and his wife’s marriage register (row 162) from Campbell, Virginia, in 1927, the start of their union, allowing for the creation of countless marriages.11 

Original 1927 marriage register from Campbell, Virginia. Long list of names, and residences. Features the marriage of Oscar Lawrence Johnson and Susie Catherine Johnson.
Register of Marriages for Campbell County, Virginia, 1927 (courtesy of Ancestry.com)

“Johnson”

As the Reverend of the First Baptist Church on Magazine Street, Reverend 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. Reverend O.L. Johnson played a crucial role in uniting local Black couples and their families.

First Baptist Church

In 1968, The Southwest Times published an extensive article titled about Reverend O.L. Johnson’s devotion to serving God and man exemplified by his life’s work. The Reverend earned his Doctor of Divinity degree from the Virginia Theological Seminary and College in 1921. While working in the Pearisburg school system, Reverend Johnson served as a pastor at the First Baptist Church of Pearisburg and Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Brookneal.12

Black and white photo of a church congregation standing outside of their church. Signage indicates this is the First Baptist Church on Magazine St. The congregation is dressed in Sunday best attire and choir robes. Individuals of all ages standing, kneeling, seated in chairs, and seated on the ground smiling at the camera.
First Baptist Church Congregation (courtesy of the First Baptist Church)

In 1967, Reverend 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. Reverend 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. The Reverend conducted revivals all along the east coast and frequently visited “homes, hospitals, nursing homes, jails, and prisons.” Reverend O.L. Johnson’s lifelong, unwavering dedication to faith left a remarkable impact on the community of Pulaski.13

Susie Johnson

Summary

Susie Catherine Asher Johnson was born on July 27, 1904 to parents Jeff and Mattie Asher.14 After marrying Reverend O.L. Johnson, Susan gave birth to both of their children in Pearisburg before relocating to Pulaski. Mrs. Susie Johnson was incredibly involved in her local community in Pulaski, hosting events with the Gem City Garden Club. In her later years, she lived with her daughter Dorcas in New York where she passed away on December 4, 1980. She is buried alongside her beloved husband in Pulaski.15

Symbolic Representation

Garden Club Tools

Mrs. Susie Johnson was 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.16

Dorcas Rogers (neé Johnson)

Summary

Dorcas Rogers was born on March 14, 1929, in Pearisburg, Virginia, to parents Susie and Reverend 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. Known for her passion for music and education, she touched the lives of countless students.17 In 1953, Dorcas married William Hillard Rogers in Pulaski.18 The couple had two sons, William Jr. and Lawrence. Dorcas passed away on August 27, 2007, leaving her children and grandchildren to cherish her love, leadership, and unwavering dedication legacy.19

Symbolic Representation

Dorcas Rogers Image

Cutout of a portrait of a woman's head. She has short black hair and is gazing directly into the camera with a warm smile.
Dorcas Rogers (courtesy of The Massapequa Herald Post)

Alpha Kappa Alpha

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. Throughout the chapter’s nearly thirty-five years of history, they have served the community by conducting educational activities, providing for the homeless, promoting higher education, maintaining the local park, and they continue to do more.20

Oscar Lawrence Johnson Jr.

Summary

Oscar Lawrence Johnson Jr. was born in December of 1931 to parents Susie and Reverend O.L. After high school, he left Pulaski for Petersburg, Virginia, where he reportedly attended Virginia State College on the 1950 Census.21 In 1951, Oscar reported for physical examinations alongside fourteen other men from Pulaski County.22 According to an article from The Southwest Times, Oscar enlisted in August 1952 and completed basic Army training in Indiana. Oscar started his military career as a Private First Class in the Army, eventually advancing to Corporal in Korea, and he was discharged in 1954.23

Symbolic Representation

Named Participant List

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. The named plaintiff list from the 1947 lawsuit reads “Oscar Johnson, an infant, by O.L. Johnson, his father and next friend.”24

Excerpt of a 1947 court transcript's plaintiff list which reads "Oscar Johnson, an infant, by O.L. Johnson, his father and next friend,"
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)

Trinidad and Tobago Flag

According to the New York City Marriage Index, in 1965, Oscar married Sheila Cynthia Joseph. Records indicate that Shelia Joseph was born in Trinidad and Tobago.25

United States Army Corporal Patch

Image of a flat headstone of Oscar L Johnson Jr. Headstone reads "Oscar L Johnson Jr CPL US Army Korea Dec 9 1931 - Aug 8 1983.
Oscar L Johnson Jr. Headstone (courtesy of Find a Grave.com)

During his stint in the Army, Oscar Johnson Jr. served as a Corporal in Korea26. 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.27 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.28

Sources

  1. Department of Commerce–Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States: 1910–Population. Bedford, Virginia. Enumerated May 28, 1910. Sheet no. 99B. Entry for Oscar Johnson. Accessed on Ancestry.com. ↩︎
  2. Commonwealth of Virginia Certificate of Death for Pinkie Johnson. July 9, 1934. File number 14352. Thaxton, Virginia. Accessed on Ancestry.com. ↩︎
  3. Department of Commerce–Bureau of the Census. 1870 Census of the United States. Campbell, Virginia. Enumerated August 19, 1870. Page No 21G. Entry for Allen Johnson. Accessed on Ancestry.com. ↩︎
  4. Commonwealth of Virginia Register of Marriages for Oscar Lawrence Johnson and Susie Catherine Asher. 1927. Campbell, Virginia. Accessed on Ancestry.com. ↩︎
  5. “World War I Draft Registration Card for Oscar Lawrence Johnson 1917-1918.” Form 2209. Number 226. Thaxton, Virginia. Accessed on Ancestry.com. ↩︎
  6. Jones, Cara. “United States Military Draft Records of the Civil War, World War I, and World War II. FamilySearch International. 2021. https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/img_auth.php/3/3b/U.S._Military_Draft_Records_handout.pdf. ↩︎
  7. “World War I Draft Registration Cards.” The National Archives. n.d. Accessed on August 12, 2025. https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww1/draft-registration.  ↩︎
  8. “World War I Draft: Topics in Chronicling America.” Library of Congress Research Guides. n.d. Accessed on August 12, 2025. https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-wwi-draft. ↩︎
  9. National Archives At St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri. Records of the Selective Service System. World War II: Fourth Registration. “Oscar Lawrence Johnson.” 533, 1942. Accessed on Ancestry.com. ↩︎
  10. “The History of the Wedding Ring.” Cape Town Diamond Museum. n.d. Accessed on April 29, 2025. https://www.capetowndiamondmuseum.org/education/the-history-of-the-wedding-ring/. ↩︎
  11. Commonwealth of Virginia Register of Marriages for Oscar Lawrence Johnson and Susie Catherine Asher. 1927. ↩︎
  12. “Minister Devotes Life To Serving God and Man.” The Southwest Times. February 25, 1968. Page 13. Accessed on Virginia Chronicle Library of Virginia Digital Newspaper Archive. ↩︎
  13. Ibid. ↩︎
  14. Commonwealth of Virginia Register of Marriage for Oscar Lawrence Johnson and Susie Catherine Asher. 1927. ↩︎
  15. “Area Deaths, Susie A. Johnson.” The Southwest Times. December 8, 1980. Page 2. Accessed on Virginia Chronicle Library of Virginia Digital Newspaper Archive. ↩︎
  16. “Gem City Garden club working on 45th year of service.” The Southwest Times. December 11, 1983. Page A6. Accessed on Virginia Chronicle Library of Virginia Digital Newspaper Archive. ↩︎
  17. Elliot, Tiffany. “Dorcas Rogers: Amityville Junior High Music Teacher.” Massapequa Herald Post. September 12, 2007. https://www.massapequapost.com/articles/dorcas-rogers-amityville-junior-high-music-teacher/. ↩︎
  18. Commonwealth of Virginia Certificate of Marriage for William Hilliard Rogers and Dorcas C. Johnson. June 6, 1953. File number 17806. Pulaski, Virginia. Accessed on Ancestry.com. ↩︎
  19. Elliot, Tiffany. “Dorcas Rogers: Amityville Junior High Music Teacher.” Massapequa Herald Post. September 12, 2007. ↩︎
  20. “Chapter History.” Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Sigma Psi Omega Chapter. Long Island, New York. 2022. https://akasigmapsiomega.org/Chapter_History. ↩︎
  21. Department of Commerce–Bureau of the Census. 1950 Census of Population and Housing. Virginia State College Men’s Dormitory. Enumerated May, 1950. Sheet no. 39A. Entry for Oscar L Johnson. Accessed on Ancestry.com. ↩︎
  22. “Fifteen County Men Will Report For Draft Exams.” The Southwest Times. September 25, 1951. Page 1. Accessed on Virginia Chronicle Library of Virginia Digital Newspaper Archive. ↩︎
  23. “Serves in Japan.” The Southwest Times. December 8, 1953. Page 2. Accessed on Virginia Chronicle Library of Virginia Digital Newspaper Archive. ↩︎
  24. Corbin et al. v. County School Board of Pulaski County, VA. et al. 84 F. Supp. 253 (W.D. Va. 1949) May 2, 1949. ↩︎
  25. The NYC Marriage Index. “Shelia Cynthia Joseph and Oscar Lawrence Johnson Jr.” 1965. License number 11233. Manhattan, New York. Accessed on Reclaim the Records. ↩︎
  26. Memorial page for Oscar L Johnson Jr. Memorial ID 845093. Calverton National Cemetery. Maintained by Pam Miller. Find a Grave. Accessed on April 29, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/845093/oscar_l-johnson. ↩︎
  27. “Stories of War, Korean War, 1950-1953.” African American Veterans Monument. n.d. Accessed on April 29, 2025. https://aavmwny.org/war/korean-war/. ↩︎
  28. U.S. Army, “U.S. Army Ranks.” Accessed on April 29, 2025. https://www.army.mil/ranks/. ↩︎