Life History

Notes

• Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1932
  J D Johnson
  Male
  Birth 8:30 PM 5 Sep 1928 Wichita Falls, Wichita, Texas
  Father Joe Johnson born Atlanta, Georgia, Residence Wichita Falls, Texas
  Occupation Grocery Clerk
  Mother Pearl Green born Marlow, Oklahoma, Residence Wichita Falls, Texas
  Housewife
  
  1930 Federal Census, Wichita County, Texas, 7 April, Wichita Falls, District 25, page 9A, 1908 Collins St, Hse #160, Fam #168
  Johnson, Joe D Head Rents $25 M W 28 First Married at 23 yrs old GA GA GA Grocery Clerk [b abt 1902]
  Johnson, Pearl L Wife F W 23 First Married at 17 yrs old OK OK OK No Occupation [b abt 1907]
  Johnson, Joe D Son M W 1yr1mo Single TX GA OK [b abt Feb 1929]
  
  1940 Federal Census, Willacy County, Texas, 19 April, Raymondville, District 245-3, page 21B, E Hidalgo Ave, Hse #423, Rents $10
  Johnson, Joe D Head M W 37 Grade H1 GA Friona Pamer [Parmer] Co in 1935  Proprietor, Gasoline Station [b abt 1903]
  Johnson, Pearl L Wife F W 33 Grade H3 OK Friona Pamer [Parmer] Co in 1935  [b abt 1907]
  Johnson, Joe Jr Son M W 11 Single Grade 4 TX Friona Pamer [Parmer] Co in 1935  [b abt 1929]
  
  Joe's brother Nolen's birth record tells us that their father's full name was Joe Duke Johnson.  Joe reported in 1930 as Joe D like his father and in 1940 as Joe Jr, would thus also be Joe Duke Johnson.
  
  Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997
  Nolen Eugene Johnson
  Birth 20 Jun 1939 Hidalgo County
  Father's name Joe Duke Johnson
  Mother's name Pearl Lois Green
  
  Joe Jr died in a car wreck a few miles east of Friona.
  
  Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982
  J D Johnson
  Birth 5 September 1928 Texas
  Residence Friona, Parmer, Texas
  Father Joe D Johnson, born Georgia
  Mother Pearl Green, born Oklahoma
  Age at Death 24 yrs, 10 mos, 26 days
  Occupation Farm Laborer
  Death 1 August 1953 Hwy 60, 1 mi west of Black, Rural Precinct 1, Parmer County, Texas
  [This is east of Friona]
  Cause of death Fractured Skull from Automobile Accident
  Burial 3 August Friona Cemetery, Friona, Parmer County, Texas
  Certificate 428967 filed 3 August 1953, filed State 8 September 1953
  
  ----------------
  J D Johnson
  Birth 5 Sep 1928 Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas
  Death 1 Aug 1953 (aged 24) Parmer County, Texas
  Burial Friona Cemetery, Friona, Parmer County, Texas
  
  Parents:
  Joe Duke Johnson  1901 - unknown
  Pearl Lois Green Johnson 1907-1984
  Siblings:
  Roy Lee Johnson 1925-1983
  Nolen E Johnson 1939-2001
  
  Tragedy struck surely and quickly on Parmer County highways this week-end, leaving a traffic toll of three dead, at least five injured, two automobiles demolished, two trucks partially damaged, and nine children left fatherless.
  
  Burl Harrison Beene, 29, Friona; A.D. Johnson, 24, Friona; and Carl Davis Greeson, 39, Black; were killed Saturday night in a collision a few hundred yards west of the Black elevators. Glen Mingus, passenger in the same automobile, was hosptalized [sic], and his condition is said to be satisfactory. Time of the collision was near 9 o'clock Saturday night.
  
  Beene was driving eastward on Highway 60 in a new Mercury, with Johnson, Greeson and Mingus as passengers. Highway patrolmen reported that the Beene car evidently pulled out to pass a car driven by Ray Landrum and collided with a truck driven by Marvin Valentine Crow of Clovis, who escaped injury. Evidently seeing the imminent collision, Beene apparently headed for the north barrow pit, the westbound truck striking the Mercury broadsided. Investigating officers said that the car never overturned, though was as badly wrecked as most overturned cars they have seen. All bodies were thrown clear of the car.
  
  Sheriff Charles Lovelace was at the drive-in theatre in Friona when he received the call via police radio from the highway patol [sic]. Picking up Justice of the Peace Walter Loveless, they went to the scene immediately. Dr. Smith, who accompanied the local ambulance, stated that Greeson wasn't dead at the time he reached him, however he died en route to the Parmer County hospital.
  
  (Published in The Friona Star, Volume 29, Number 1, Thursday, August 6, 1953, Page 1)
  -----
  
  Funeral services for J.D. Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe D. Johnson of Friona, were conducted Monday afternoon at 4:30 in the Friona Baptist Church.
  
  Services were conducted by Rev. Sam McLean of the Pentecostal Church at Lubbock, assisted by Rev. R.W. Wilburn and Rev. E.E. Houlette of Friona.
  
  Interment was in the Friona Cemetery under the direction of Gililland Funeral Home of Hereford.
  
  Johnson was born September 5, 1928, at Wichita Falls, Texas, moving to near Friona in 1931. He died August 1, 1953 at the age of 24 years, 10 months and 27 days.
  
  J.D. finished school at the Friona High School in 1945. He entered the armed services November 10, 1950, and was in combat service with the 45th Division in Korea. In this service he was awarded the Purple Heart. He was released from active duty September 24th 1852, and remained in the Enlisted Reserve Corps.
  
  Survivors include the parents; Mr. and Mrs. Joe D. Johnson, two brothers, Roy Lee and Nolen Eugene, and three grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. James Taylor Green and Mr. B.F. Johnson, together with a number of uncles, aunts and other relatives.
  
  (Published in The Friona Star, Volume 29, Number 1, Thursday, August 6, 1953, Page 5)
  
  Maintained by Edith Guynes Stanley, Originally Created by Mary(Coggin)Russell 15 Apr 2016
  --  Find A Grave Memorial 161105477, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/161105477/j_-d_-johnson
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Sources

• 1. 1930 Federal Census, Wichita County, Texas
  • 7 April, Wichita Falls, District 25, page 9A, 1908 Collins St, Hse #160, Fam #168
• 2. 1940 Federal Census, Willacy County, Texas
  • 19 April, Raymondville, District 245-3, page 21B, E Hidalgo Ave, Hse #423, Rents $10
• 3. Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1932
• 4. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982
• 5. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 6. Hugh Green, personal communication