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Sarah H. Johnson Rose Above the Times in Greenville, MS

THE NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER — Excerpt: Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons released a statement, expressing the city’s shock and sadness shortly after Johnson’s death. Simmons said hearts were heavy in Greenville for the loss of Mrs. Johnson. “Mrs. Johnson will be remembered, not only as a municipal leader, but also as a community activist who loved the City of Greenville, her family, and all its citizens,” Simmons wrote. “Mrs. Johnson’s determination, dedicated service, and courage opened the doors of City Hall for me and every other Black municipal leader in Greenville.”
The post Sarah H. Johnson Rose Above the Times in Greenville, MS first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 years ago

June 3, 2023

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By Sybil C. Mitchell | The New Tri-State Defender

Sarah Hughes Johnson, a beloved daughter of Greenville, Mississippi, respected for her Civil Rights advocacy and civic leadership, died May 9 at Region One Health in Memphis. She was 85.

Ms. Johnson’s life was a filled with accomplishments that helped improve the lives of her constituents, especially African Americans.

“Our mother was bold,” said Geneva Johnson, the eldest of Johnson’s four children. “She was courageous, and threats from white people who didn’t like what she was doing never fazed her. Mother just kept going, even after the divorce when she was left to raise four children alone. She was never distracted from her purpose.”

Sarah Hughes Johnson handled her business and won reelection.

In 1973, Ms. Johnson became the first African American to serve on the Greenville City Council. Johnson was also the city’s vice-mayor.

Sarah Hughes Johnson’s swearing-in ceremony was front-page news.

Ms. Johnson served on the city council for 23 years. Upon retiring in 1996, she realized that she helped push the city forward for more than two decades.

Beyond Greenville’s racist past, her efforts spurred momentum for a new day in uniting the races in hope and optimism.

“Of course, as children, we didn’t understand, really, who our mother was,” said Karen Johnson, youngest of the four children. Mother was director of various organizations. She had lots of friends also working in the civil rights movement.

“We had different ‘nannies,’ who would look after us. We didn’t see mother as much as we would have liked, especially me because I’m the baby. But we at least could understand that her work was important.”

In 2013, then-Greenville mayor John Cox met Johnson, along with family members and officially renamed a Greenville street, “Sarah H. Johnson Lane.”

Even at 75, sitting in her wheelchair, Johnson made a speech during the event.

Sarah Hughes Johnson (2010) at the intersection of Old Leland and the street named after her. (Courtesy photo)

“Praise God and thank you, Jesus,” she began. “I want to thank all of you for coming out to this occasion…”

The Delta Daily News reported that Ms. “Johnson won her political campaign in 1973 during a time when racism and Jim Crow laws were still in full effect despite being revoked years prior…”

“Throughout her career, Johnson was known for her tenacity and willingness to help the poor, middle-class, and the elderly. Her goal was always to help those who were less fortunate. She will be remembered for embodying the characteristics that the community needs to see in its leaders.”

Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons released a statement, expressing the city’s shock and sadness shortly after Johnson’s death. Simmons said hearts were heavy in Greenville for the loss of “Mrs. Johnson.”

“Mrs. Johnson will be remembered, not only as a municipal leader, but also as a community activist who loved the City of Greenville, her family, and all its citizens,” Simmons wrote. “Mrs. Johnson’s determination, dedicated service, and courage opened the doors of City Hall for me and every other Black municipal leader in Greenville.”

Johnson was employed by Mississippi Action for Community Education, where she was the area director for the People’s Education Program (Head Start). Johnson also served as a 1972 Fellow of the Mississippi Institute of Politics and attended several affairs by invitation to the White House during President Jimmy Carter’s administration.

Sarah Hughes Johnson is greeted by President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalyn. (Courtesy photo)

Sarah Hughes was the fourth child of 13 children. she never knew who her father was. Her birth mother gave her to an aunt, who had just lost a baby.

“There was never a formal adoption, or anything like that,” said Geneva Johnson. “My mom’s birth mother gave her sister the baby because her baby died. So really, the woman my mother called her mother was really her auntie. That’s just what families did back then.

“She was born in Allendale, South Carolina. Mother and Daddy came later to Greenville because he was moved to a new church. Dad was a United Methodist pastor.”

Sarah Hughes met Ned Johnson at Clark College. She was a first-year student, and Ned Johnson was attending Gammon Seminary. Although Hughes won a full-time scholarship as valedictorian of her high school, she left after her freshman year. After starting a family, Johnson was assigned a new church in Greenville.

Unfortunately, the union did not last, and Ned Johnson left Greenville, never to return.

“My dad left when I was three years old,” said Karen Johnson. “But my mother was always there — still out there fighting for her community. Mother and other community activists decided that the four Johnson children will go to the predominantly white school to force integration.

“And I didn’t mind going to school with white children. It was just not having the frilly, little dresses that bothered me. I was about six or seven.”

Despite a very painful divorce and all the hatred the white establishment could muster, Johnson never lost sight of her vision that all of Greenville’s children would enjoy a free, public, and equal education and every citizen could freely exercise their right to vote without threat or intimidation.

Sarah Hughes Johnson in earlier times with her children (l-r) Geneva, Ned, Yvonne and Karen. (Courtesy photo)

“This Mother’s Day was going to be extra special,” said Geneva Johnson, prior to the holiday. “Each year, that day becomes so precious because you begin to realize your mother won’t be with you always. I thought we would enjoy her today. She went on to be with the Lord, but we’re still going to enjoy her.

“We’ll share memories and laugh about so many things we thought were funny as children. We’ll call our brother Ned so we can all remember her together. It will be hard, but we will get through it. We are all pretty tough. We got it from our mother.”

This article originally appeared in the New Tri-State Defender

The post Sarah H. Johnson Rose Above the Times in Greenville, MS first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts found Darius Cooper with nine seconds left for the game winning touchdown as his team beat the Tennessee Titans 24-20 in Nashville. Hurts finished the day 26/37 for 264 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 […]
The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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2 weeks ago

September 20, 2026

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Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 yards. During the final drive Hurts went 6-8 with 61 passing yards and the touchdown. Titans defensive tackle — and team captain — Jeffery Simmons said this week that the way to defend Jalen Hurts is to make him “play quarterback.”

Hurts said to Simmons after today’s game: “You started that sh**. I had to finish it.”

Running back Saquon Barkley suffered a stinger in the first half but he ultimately finished the game. He had four carries and nine yards and one catch for eleven yards. He will get an MRI for his injury, but admitted to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network he was fine.

Caleb Williams leaves game against Vikings with apparent lower-body injury

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was helped off the field with a right leg injury with 7:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams was down, writhing in pain after scrambling to his left. After departing the injury tent, Williams raised his right fist, acknowledging the crowd while expressing his frustration. Testing will commence on Monday to find out more details about his injury.

“We’ll know tomorrow,” Johnson admitted regarding Williams’ injury. “He’s in good spirits. He’s a team player.”

Williams finished the day with 138 passing yards and one interception.

“I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee — that was my first inclination,” Johnson said. “But, a hamstring could be pretty damaging as well. So, we’ll see. We’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”

Bryce Young once again dominated the Falcons

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is 5-1 against the Atlanta Falcons and is undefeated at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Today, Young threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns as he led the Panthers to a 34-3 dismembering of the Atlanta Falcons. Georgia Tech alumnus Darren Waller caught two touchdowns and linebacker Devin Lloyd returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown.

Cooper Rush started his second straight game for the Falcons and it did not go well. The partisan crowd voiced their displeasure after Rush completed 10/17 passes for 86 yards and two interceptions. Jack Strand entered the game for Rush prompting cheers from the Falcons fans. The rookie threw a pick-six on his first career pass attempt. Strand was the first QB to accomplish that feat since Sam Darnold in 2018 and is the first Falcons player to do that since Brett Favre in 1991. Strand finished the day with 59 passing yards and 16 rushing yards.

According to reports, quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. is expected to make his season debut this Thursday at the Green Bay Packers. His return should help the Falcons. They are the first team since the 2008 Rams to not run any plays in the red zone after the first two games to open a season.

The bright spots for the Falcons today were the Spelman College Jaguarettes performing with the Falcons cheerleaders and Florida A&M’s marching band, The Marching 100, also performed during halftime!

Jayden Daniels gets carted off after apparent arm injury

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared to injure his left elbow on the final play of the first half in his game against the Dallas Cowboys. During the play, Daniels got stepped on, braced himself for the fall, and his elbow bent the wrong way. Daniels draped a towel over his head as he exited the field on the cart.

He was later ruled out.

Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow to the same arm during week nine of last season against the Washington Commanders, which led to him being shut down for the remainder of the season.

The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win

Master the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework with Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt. Learn every stage, tactic, and win!
The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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2 weeks ago

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Negotiation framework stages, tactics, and winning strategies from AutoNetwork

Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt deliver the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework in Episode 8 of The Color of Our Money Is Green. This episode covers the three foundations of every effective negotiation, the full seven-stage negotiation sequence with exact language for every stage, and five of the most common dealership tactics with the specific response each one requires.
What You Learn in This Episode:
The three foundations that make every negotiation tactic work
The complete seven-stage car-buying negotiation sequence
Exact language for every stage of the dealership conversation
Five common dealership tactics — the turnover, the four-square, the packed payment, spot delivery, and forced add-ons — and how to counter each one
Why signing preliminary paperwork isn’t the same as signing the final contract
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“The Color of Our Money Is Green: A Buyer’s Guide to What Cars Actually Cost” — stan.store/RGist
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AutoNetwork helps serious car shoppers inspect any new vehicle online before walking into a dealership. I’m Roosevelt — I’ve been reviewing cars and shaping digital car buying and credit union auto leasing since before YouTube car reviews existed.
You’ll find detailed walkaround reviews, POV test drives, and buyer-focused breakdowns covering comfort, space, features, and real-world value.

How to use the channel:
Watch the walkaround of the car you’re considering
Visit AutoNetwork.com for the full review
Check CouponsOffersAndDeals.com for current dealer specials
Walk in already knowing what you want — and what it should cost

AutoNetwork.com
CouponsOffersAndDeals.com
Affiliate disclosure: some links earn a small commission at no cost to you and help support the channel. Insta360 is one of those partners.

The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts

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The post Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Mazda CX-90 interior with heated seats offering premium comfort.

Experience ultimate comfort in the CX-90. Nappa leather, heated/ventilated seats, 8-way power adjustments, and memory settings for both front passengers. The heated steering wheel with memory tilt/telescope adds premium convenience.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/EH5A4eQ4ipY