TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Johnstons Exemplify Spiritual, Artful Living

ADVERTISEMENT

By MAUREA SLEESMAN Hernando Today correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 14, 2009

Note: This writer worked with activists and retirees Wallace and Charlene Johnston a few years ago at the Unitarian Universalist Church in the Pines to stage community Kwanzaa celebrations when their neighborhood Baptist church declined being a host, as Kwanzaa is not a religious celebration but more of a cultural honoring.

Wallace and Charlene Johnston have served as officers and committed promoters of Kwanzaa, the African-American Club, Hernando Jazz Society, Hernando Performing Arts and the Brooksville Music Club.

Both are college-educated and successful in their careers, they have likewise kept active in communications and volunteerism with work affiliations, family, friends and other matters of their passions. Add to that a fondness for attending performances of local theater and the Hernando Symphony, and traveling to catch select performing arts and artworks.

As activists, they are heartfelt leaders one may say. Using the word "love" as a measure of intensity, they emanate that for each other, family, friends, community, education and personal achievement and culture. They both served locally helping President Obama's election campaign.

In tribute to Black History Month, Wallace Johnston was the keynote speaker at the February meeting of the African-American Club of Hernando County. His private library contains more than 400 books on black history, and he knows how to Google.

His exciting and well-documented talk focused on four historic subjects: James Thomas, a son of a slave and a judge who became a St. Louis entrepreneur whose net worth in today's economy would be 8.3-million dollars; Reginald F. Lewis, Harvard graduate whose law firm's clients included General Mills, Equitable Life and the Ford Foundation; Black citizens of Boley, Oklahoma, whose brave actions rallied to help capture 'Pretty Boy Floyd; and James Beckworth, whose mid-1800s escapades included Crow Indian tribal leadership, being an Army Scout in Florida's Seminole War, and leading a wagon train of settlers through a Nevada mountain pass now named in his honor.

Wallace escorted Charlene to her high school prom, so their personal chemistry dates back to the 1950s. A former dancer, model, clothing designer, singer and thespian in days gone by, Charlene looks and acts young, and keeps fit at the local YMCA near their lovely Spring Hill home.

Charlene recently enrolled in some writing classes at the University of South Florida, and wrote a book depicting some family stories any reader would enjoy. A world traveler, her personal family history reflects settings in Harlem, Queens, southern locales and family in Barbados. She earned her master's degree in public health at New York University.

She completed her Doctoral degree at Virginia Tech and was dean of the dental hygiene program at Northern Virginia Community College for 15 years, retiring as a full professor in 1995.

Wallace Johnston earned a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He retired from an engineering business he owned for 30 years in New York, and is listed in three Who's Who books: in Engineering (1982), Among Black Americans (1985), and in the East (1984). He is also past president of the Nature Coast Chapter and served three years as State Board Director of the Florida Engineering Society. Active on scholarship committees in their club affiliations, he and Charlene started a tutorial program at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.

In paying respect to the spiritual energies of famous jazz musicians and composers, Charlene wrote and narrated background talks about their music as performed at several well attended "Jazz Vespers" annual programs at the UU Church in the Pines, played by musicians of Hernando Jazz Society. Music Greats included Count Basie, Duke Ellington and John Coltrane. She and Wallace enjoy their extensive music collection and knowledge of jazz.

This past week has been another example of the Johnstons' promotion and enjoyment of old friends. Charlene met Irving Burgie in 1950 at Camp Minisink in New York, and counts friends among members of his family before then. Trained at Juilliard and an acclaimed Manhattan and Chicago featured performer, Mr. Burgie is the famous composer of several Caribbean songs Harry Belafonte made best sellers, such as "Day-O!," "Island in the Sun," "Mary's Boy Child Jesus Christ," and "Jamaica Farewell." Mr. Burgie also wrote songs and music productions for others, including some hits for The Kingston Trio.

Currently on a tour promoting his autobiography, Charlene and Wallace Johnston hosted a book-signing party at their home, serving catered Island cuisine to some 40 invited guests. Later, Charlene will "reintroduce" her famous friend in her upcoming talk, audio and video presentation at the Brooksville Music Club.

Friends Velda and Howard Brown, Episcopalians, have been married nearly 50 years. A lifelong friend of Charlene, Velda attested to the "outstanding roles the Johnstons live in our community, and their support of friends and causes shows years and years of continued loyalty and commitment. They make a fine Valentine's Day example."

Velda's mother was friends with Charlene's mother in their New York childhoods and the families knew the Burgies. Velda was as eager as Charlene to buy Irving Burgie's autobiography. This writer, who teethed on and loves Irving Burgie's music, was thrilled to meet the composer on Tuesday, and immediately bought his CD and read his beguiling book, "Day-O!!!" for this article: see min-review box. Purchases of Mr. Burgie's book and CD may be made from Charlene at 666-4867. For more information, visit: www.irvingburgie.com.

Both Johnstons are lively parents and grandparents, and love their multi-cultural family, keeping in close contact. Charlene says their monthly phone bill is "a bit high ..." She described several of the seasonal reunions in planned in various venues as they travel, especially each December. "We have big family celebrations for Kwanzaa, Christmas and Noche Bueno," Charlene said.

When asked the success formula for combining busy and creative lives anchored by love for this and each day, Wallace Johnston smiled graciously and said, "A wise saying is this: 'LOVE is an active verb!'"

So be active.

With love,

Happy Valentine's Day!

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT