H.R. No. 1232
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Jessie Johnson and Malissie Simpson Johnson were
1-2 native Texans, both of whom were born, raised, married and lived
1-3 most of their lives in Jewett, Texas, in Leon County; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Jessie and Malissie Johnson were married on December
1-5 23, 1923, and devoted more than 70 years to their family and each
1-6 other; and
1-7 WHEREAS, Against all odds and hardships, Jessie and Malissie
1-8 purchased a 120-acre farm in Jewett, Texas, in 1928; and
1-9 WHEREAS, Jessie walked eight miles each way to his
1-10 25-cents-an-hour job at the Burlington Northern Rock Island
1-11 Railroad in order to pay off the mortgage on his farm; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Jessie continued to work for the railroad after his
1-13 farm was paid off, retiring in 1965 after 42 years of service; and
1-14 WHEREAS, Jessie and Malissie cleared and plowed their farm
1-15 with their own back-breaking labor in order to raise cattle, hogs,
1-16 horses, chickens, peacocks, guineas, peas, corn, and watermelon,
1-17 and a garden for their family; and
1-18 WHEREAS, Jessie and Malissie raised nine children on their
1-19 farm and ensured that each of them walked to school and received an
1-20 education; and
1-21 WHEREAS, Each of Jessie and Malissie's children was graduated
1-22 from Friendship High School in Jewett, from George Washington
1-23 Carver High School in Jewett, or from Prairie View A&M University;
2-1 and
2-2 WHEREAS, Jessie and Malissie were the devoted grandparents of
2-3 29 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren; and
2-4 WHEREAS, In 1978, greedy coal companies attempted to lease
2-5 his farmland for mineral development, which resulted in a
2-6 protracted legal battle with the State of Texas; and
2-7 WHEREAS, Waiting more than 124 years before bringing
2-8 attention to their own 1857 error, the General Land Office tried to
2-9 reclaim the Johnsons' farm; and
2-10 WHEREAS, At the age of 81, Jessie Johnson began a statewide
2-11 legislative and political fight to keep the farm he owned, cleared,
2-12 and faithfully paid taxes on, having kept his tax receipts for more
2-13 than 50 years; and
2-14 WHEREAS, The Johnsons' fight to keep their farm resulted in
2-15 publicity on all three national network news programs, on the front
2-16 pages of more than 50 newspapers and publications, and on numerous
2-17 radio and television programs; and
2-18 WHEREAS, The Johnsons and Representative Senfronia Thompson,
2-19 the author of the constitutional amendment, received more than
2-20 2,500 letters in support of their cause from more than 40 states;
2-21 and
2-22 WHEREAS, The courage and perseverence of this
2-23 African-American family resulted in a proposed amendment, known as
2-24 the "Jessie Johnson Amendment," to the Texas Constitution, which
2-25 was approved by voters in 1981 by a larger margin than any other
3-1 proposal on the ballot that year; and
3-2 WHEREAS, Jessie and Malissie Johnson represent the courage,
3-3 independence, and perseverence respected by every Texan; and
3-4 WHEREAS, On May 23, 1994, Jessie Johnson was received into
3-5 Heaven, and on November 9, 1994, his devoted wife, Malissie, was
3-6 received into Heaven, both having passed from this mortal life in
3-7 Houston, Texas; and
3-8 WHEREAS, They were life-long members of the Friendship
3-9 Baptist Church in Jewett, Texas, their final place of rest; now,
3-10 therefore, be it
3-11 RESOLVED, That the Texas House of Representatives honor the
3-12 lives of Jessie and Malissie Johnson of Texas, and that official
3-13 copies of this resolution be prepared for each of their children:
3-14 Myrtle B. Grayson, Jack Johnson, Millie B. Johnson, Richard
3-15 Johnson, Annie B. Johnson, Ola Mae Johnson, and Mable Lee Johnson,
3-16 all from Houston, Texas, and Preston Johnson and Marvin Johnson of
3-17 Jewett, Texas; and, be it further
3-18 RESOLVED, That the Texas House of Representatives, 74th
3-19 Regular Session, adjourn this day, the 29th day of May, 1995, in
3-20 memory of Jessie and Malissie Johnson.