The Life, Legend, and Legacy of Mary Hines Johnson

                                           The Life, Legend, and Legacy Of Mary Hines Johnson

                                                                        By: Grady Ellis

 In the West Georgia area, most people remember and still speak of Mayhayley Lancaster, and respectfully so by her abilities, and her part in regards to the Murder In Coweta County. There's another lady however, of whom is rarely mentioned, known, and almost forgotten. A true unsung hero in every sense as you'll learn in this story on Mary Hines Johnson, and now let's go there and take a look at this selfless woman who made it her life to help children of color in Heard County get an education in the 1940s, until integration, and the huge legacy and impact she made.

Mary Hines Johnson

On March 23rd, 1895, Mary Hines Johnson would be born in Glenn, in Heard County Georgia. As a child of God, she was teaching Sunday School at her local church, and felt the call in this time to help local children of color have a school to obtain an education. In 1940, she began to teach from the Ebenezer Baptist Church, yet wanted a school of her own. A notable story in this time was how she would actually walk to the homes to lead the children to school. Traveling through woods, fields etc. One day, walking the kids back from school ,a huge thunderstorm came up, and Johnson and the kids gathered under the bridge for shelter. She prayed for safety and God heard her plea. They made it safely from school, but Johnson was on a mission, and made things happen. She would donate her 28 dollars a month salary for a schoolhouse of her own. It was a small one room wooden school on the outskirt of Franklin, on Georgia Highway 34 headed towards Newnan. 

The school would be known as the "brown schoolhouse", and after World War 2, some barracks were donated and helped Mary's mission grow. She also was considered one of the first to offer free lunches to students, unheard of at the time. Her vision would allow African American children be able to graduate eventually in Heard County. Prior, it was 9th grade, or you had to go to neighboring cities like Carrollton, LaGrange to had furthered an education. Her school served all grades, and was very proud of the school, and very dedicated to her school, and children. Also stern, she would not allow a child to show ungratefulness, or what could be called today being a "brat". It was a different time, and that would bring you a paddling, and maybe a surprise visit from Mrs. Johnson to your home. It is clear she knew where she was meant to go, and what she felt called to do, she did so, and beautifully. 

By 1954, a new school opened on Alford Drive, as the new home for the Mary Johnson School, and was a huge deal for the community and Mary Johnson, a new brick school on Bevis Road and Alford Drive. It was a huge upgrade from the school she donated her monthly salary of 28 dollars to have built. As the times advanced, the requirements to teach would grow more greater, and Mary Johnson would continue to follow, as she and another local hero and legend in Heard County, Robert Canady would ride together to attend classes in Fort Valley. In this era, we still dealt with segregation and fortunately the tide was turning.

As the tide turned, and integration was on the horizon, by 1968, the final class would graduate from the Mary Johnson School. Mary had retired before-hand to my understanding, and this part of the story is where I wish to emphasize her true impact and the huge mark she made, and the paths her legend would go, and also influence. With integration, the brick school that was a symbol of pride to so very many people, and the lady herself would be renamed Heard Elementary. The name of the school would be changed, which is said to have broken Mary Johnson's heart, and one can just imagine. Sadly, on September 18, 1969, Johnson would pass away from a stroke, although many do believe she also had a broken heart. To look at what she was able to do, and creating something amazing to look at and research.. it's enough to break one's heart. But, though there was a new name on the building, and Mrs. Mary Hines Johnson got her wings, her impact was felt in so many areas, and in that same school!

There's many people who don't realize, nor know that they have too had the influence, and felt the legacy of one our our most unsung pioneers. Many educators worked with her, and was inspired, and perfected their excellent teaching skills from her. Educators such as George Moore, he took his influence to Troup County, and there it passed onto others with his own influence. At Heard Elementary, Heard County High School in Franklin Georgia, throughout, her influence was felt, and still today as of 2021. Robert Canady taught at Mary Johnson, before moving to Heard High to teach before returning to the Mary Johnson School, of course then known as Heard Elementary and would be one of the assistant principals, and very much like his mentor and friend Mary Johnson for anyone who knew his style.

Notable teachers at Heard Elementary and Heard County High School who worked with Mary Johnson besides Robert Canady included Ms. Willie Veal. Ms. Marion Rouse. Ms. Thelma Young, and Mrs. Faye Thompson, and Mrs. Theresa Freeman at Heard High. I could list so many names but this is just a glimpse at her impact. These teachers loved their students, and went by the Johnson playbook. Another teacher who didn't teach at Mary Johnson, but went there, and eventually became a teacher at Heard Elementary was Mrs. Willie Woodruff. She was directly influenced from Mary Johnson, and she inspired her to follow her dreams of furthering her education, and also becoming a teacher. Her Husband, Grady Woodruff also went to school at Mary Johnson, and drove the school bus for many years. They too went by the Mary Johnson playbook, and it wasn't written, but so by Johnson's actions. Those actions were marks of a leader, and the others followed her path, and all known and beloved.

In 1993, Mary Johnson's name would return to Heard Elementary, with the media center, part of an addition onto the front of the 1954 building in 1986, being named in her honor. I was a student in second grade at the time and this was my first time of hearing of Mary Hines Johnson. I wondered "Who was she?" I never heard her mentioned, but as I grew older, the more I learned. I knew even as a kid I was standing in a place of history. The school had such character, and if you walked the halls, you could realize which rooms were for which subject yet maintained well and kept up nicely. Although standing in history, around was her influence, which beautifully integrated into many people's lives. But, we have an issue arising, and also one already going on.

As mentioned above, the renaming of the school hurt Mary Johnson deeply, as did many. In 2004, a new school was built on Highway 34, as Heard Elementary would leave the 1954 building. The influence followed to the new school, built past the location of her original one room schoolhouse. The 1954 building would stand empty. It would remain so before the property it sat on was sold, and this symbol of pride for so many people, far and wide, would be torn down. A section of Bevis Road from 34, to past the Robert Canady homes, a housing project across from the former school named in his honor and now memory, is ALL that is left in the area with the name of Mary Johnson to see. A brick building that brought everyone together, and held such a special place in many hearts. The building that was the standing monument to a true trailblazer in every sense. In 24 years, she went from teaching African American children inside Ebenezer Baptist Church, to donating her salary of 28 dollars a month for a one room school, then 1954, that beautiful brick schoolhouse that would unite many people along numerous paths as it transcended time. The monument is gone now. That place that is so special to so many people, and from Mary Johnson's dream. The building stood as the perfect example of doing what you're called to do, answering that call, and the rewards of dedication, discipline, and overcoming. 

It is now 2021, and 81 years since this beautiful legacy came to reality. The site of the 1954 school still echoes the sounds of children, of laughter. An asphalt business today sits where the school was, but behind, and in front, two parts remain of the Mary Johnson School campus. The stories it tells, is slowly silenced with time. Mary Hines Johnson's legacy is strong, and is very much alive today at Heard Elementary, and the High School, where there remains teachers impacted from this lady. Though she inspired, and continues to, this story has been almost forgot. It is known, but almost to the point of folklore. People may see her name on a stretch of street, but not know why that is. All of her schools have been torn down now, but when you are at the corner of Mary Johnson Drive and Alford Drive, and you see Rutledge's Cafe, there's one last piece of a time that's now gone besides some old homes, along the ghosts of glory of the school site.

I want to say I think more should be done for this wonderful lady. I pray I see a day where if the front of the site of the 1954 school turned into a park. Maybe a small replica of the one room schoolhouse as a reminder of her impact. Maybe changing the name of the Heard Elementary to Mary Hines Johnson Elementary. Why did we allow the name Heard Elementary? There's more than one answer for sure, but for generations her impact will continue to be made. I know she is smiling from her mansion in heaven seeing what she brought together, and let's honor Mary Hines Johnson while we still have time. A legend, and a legacy such as hers cannot become mere myth nor folklore, and we must never forget it, it's time to educate people on this unsung hero and if anything, remember she was stern, and wanted her students to obtain the best education possible, and the perfect example of saying you're going to do something, and you do just that. Heard County was truly blessed to be the homeplace of such an amazing woman, who gave her all in return.

For more on Mary Hines Johnson, check out this awesome documentary created by Johnson's Great-Niece, Dr. Marshalette Wise. 

Former plaque that sat in the "new" school that'd become known as Heard Elementary.

Mr. Robert "Chief" Canady was a legendary figure, and he and Mary Johnson would travel to middle Georgia to advance their degrees. He would be a part of the legacy for many years, retiring as an assistant in the Mary Johnson school, which was then called Heard Elementary.

Miss Marion Rouse was a teacher at Mary Johnson School who would too stay at the building, retiring in the early 2000s.

  

Mrs. Willie Woodruff went to school in the same building she'd spend a career as a teacher. In this photo we see this great lady, a protégé of Johnson's in action in that same building.


Story is dedicated in memory to Mrs. Mary Hines Johnson. Also dedicated in honor and memory of each and every educator and student impacted by Mary Hines Johnson.

 

The Legend And History of Fuller Brothers/Jitney Jungle

                                         The Legend And History of Fuller Brothers/Jitney Jungle
                                                                   Written by: Grady Ellis
                                                                    Photo by: Grady Ellis
                                                       Vintage Photos courtesy of Webb Fuller

Former Home to Fuller Brothers/Jitney Jungle. Taken in 2017

From 1948, until the early 1990s, the corner of Maple Street and Matthews Street in Carrollton Georgia was known as a grocery hotspot. Although most would remember the days of A&P, in this article of The Ellispedia blog, we're taking a look at the grocery store that as Webb Fuller, the Son of one of the three owners said was "Similar to a Tractor Supply, with groceries." Now let's go back to 1948 and tell this wonderful story of a store that still holds a special place in many hearts of this era.


After World War 2 had ended, Webb's Father, and two of his Brothers, all of whom had served in WW2, took a risk with their GI Loan and started up a small corner store at Maple Street and Matthews Street in 1948 under the name of Fuller Brothers General Merchandise. The store would be the only place in the immediate area for many years to buy groceries. Also in this era, other local corner grocery stores that would appear were Copeland's Grocery, located on Newnan Road, and Perry's Red Dot, located on Dixie Street. Each store served its respective area well and Fuller Brothers would begin to gain traction, as they'd expand by the mid 1950s by adding onto their building to carry more merchandise. By 1960, Fuller Brothers would become a co-op with Jitney Jungle, a grocery chain that was founded in Jackson Mississippi in 1919, to compete with rivals Kroger, Colonial, and A&P, which would help the Fullers, as they now could carry the in-house brands the three chains carried, and charge for a lower price. This would be a great move overall, and in the 1960s, Jitney Jungle was the sole Grocer on Maple Street. For the next decade they had the market in the palms of their hands.

Fuller Brothers in the late 1940s.

Courtesy of Webb Fuller

Also in the early days while getting groceries, and more, you could also get your tank filled.
Courtesy of Webb Fuller
    

Jesse Fuller (Webb's Uncle), and  another employee stops for a moment for a photo.
Inside Fuller Brothers General Merchandise.
All vintage photos taken in the late 1940s, early 1950s.
Courtesy of Webb Fuller

As many could tell you when running a business, running a co-op can be difficult. Until around 1970, the Jitney Jungle was a huge success, but across Matthews Street would be the downfall of the Jitney Jungle, its name being A&P. In this era, A&P was ready to move from its second location at Newnan and White Street, and built a larger location just across the street, the same side of the road as Jitney Jungle. By this time, Colonial had relocated down to Rome Street, and expanded by 1965. New arrivals by the names of Winn Dixie and Big Apple would open on the "four lane", in West Georgia Shopping Center, which wouldn't help things. By this point, Jitney Jungle would once again become Fuller Brothers, as mentioned it's not easy being a co-op/franchise; but at this point, it was a "David and Goliath" battle. A&P and Fuller Brothers, and by the early 1970s, an era would end as the Fuller Brothers would close its doors, and A&P would reign until the 1990s as the sole Grocery store on the Maple Street corridor, before it'd too close its doors in the early 1990s, and presently Club Fitness.

After closing the grocery store at Maple and Matthews Street, the Fuller Brothers would run the Maple Street Shoppette for a time, an open-air market which was also popular but would eventually close, thus an era ended. In regards to other local grocers Copeland's, and Perry's Red Dot. It's unknown when Copeland's and Red Dot closed, but likely sometime too in the 1970s for Red Dot, as Warehouse Groceries would open in 1972, and well once again, we know that outcome. Copeland's would remain in operation for the longest time as a grocery store, and changed names. It was by then a large convenience store, serving the area around Griffin Homes, and the Newnan Road area. It'd close by the turn of the century, and the building would be torn down in 2002 for a park. The Red Dot was torn down in the 2000s, and now an entrance into Southwire. The last building of the three standing is the former Fuller Brothers building. It was a CARQUEST for many years, and presently a local business known as Jules & James, a local boutique.

NOTES: Jitney Jungle were also located in Bowdon and Villa Rica. The Bowdon location was located on Wedowee Street (Hwy 100), and would move later to the present site of Dollar General, as both locations have been demolished. The Villa Rica location was located on Bankhead Hwy (U.S. 78), and for many years home to a Dollar General, presently home to ACRA Office Products.

Ellispedia: The Mystique of Lake Carroll Mall

                                          The Mystique of Lake Carroll Mall
                                       Written and photos taken by Grady Ellis


I normally like to work quickly as possible once an idea enters my mind and since before the birth of Ellispedia, the dream of a retail blog was a dream, and dreams do come true if you are headstrong within your faith, and inner-toughness. And now here's our first Editorial on a place most of you know about and has been an interest for many people in the West Georgia/East Alabama area, the Lake Carroll Mall in Carrollton Georgia.

Former Kroger from 1976-1987. Also Big Lots from the end of the 1980s until closing in the 2010s. 

In the time-frame of the mid 1970s, Carrollton was expanding outside Adamson Square. By 1974, Carrollton already had West Georgia Shopping Center, opening in 1968 with Winn Dixie, Grant City, Jacob Drugs, and Big Apple, along with the Rome Street Shopping Center on Rome Street below the square, opening in 1961 with Colonial, and McCrory, Singer Shops, and Sears joining in 1965. In the 1970s, enclosed malls were the hottest trend in commercial development and when in retail. You could literally in those days one stop shop at the mall unlike today. 

Around 1975, an enclosed mall was in the works for Carrollton. As we know, the mall fell through and we got Lake Carroll Mall and First Tuesday Mall within a short span, 1975-76. Had the mall of been built and opened, it'd been anchored by Kmart, JCPenney, Belk, and Kroger, bringing JCPenney and Kmart to town before they would arrive in 1978 for Kmart, and 1987 for JCPenney. Belk had a deal with their downtown store, opening in 1947 where the parking garage now sits behind the former People's Bank in Downtown Carrollton. Most in the retail community, far outside the Carrollton have always been taken away with these two shopping centers including myself, and seeing them in the best of days, and not so best of days. So now let's talk about the Lake Carroll Mall.

Lake Carroll Mall was anchored by one store, Kroger, styled in their normal 70s Superstore format that was building through West Georgia like a wildfire as they were opening stores all over the area, having all major cities besides Cedartown covered by the late 1970s. Strangely, Kroger did not have a drug store next door to it. In the 1970s, Kroger were commonly found with SuperX Drugs, a Drug Store chain that was owned by Kroger, and I have heard two sides to the tale, but according to a highly respected source, Kroger's deal at Lake Carroll was temporary, and most of the Kroger Superstores built in West Georgia were replaced by the late 1980s, as Douglasville's store would move across the street to where it remains today on Hospital Drive. Carrollton was already a hotspot for the longtime grocer, and they did plan to stay around Carrollton, returning after an absence since they'd close their first location on Alabama Street in 1968. By the end of the 70s, they were eyeing a site near the former home of T-Burger for a second location, which would've been a greenhouse store with a SuperX next door, but fell through. Kroger's stay at Lake Carroll Mall would be their shortest stay in the three locations they have had in Carrollton since arriving in 1947.

Next to Kroger would be Baskin-Robbins, which was popular and with the theatres across the street at First Tuesday Mall and next to Kroger and did very well and outlasted Kroger by a year or so. Only Kroger and Baskin Robbins faced Bankhead, as you'd walk down the corridor and find a mall area, known to us in the retail history community as an "Small". 

The mall was initially very popular with people and from research, and reading phone books, alongside Kroger and Baskin Robbins, there were The Squire Shop, The Shoe Place, Maryville Jewelers, Genesis 1, Fox Photo, J.T. Joseph's, Small World, Beckett's, Frocks and Frills and Partners Bar & Restaurant. The late 1970s and early 1980s would been the prime for Lake Carroll Mall overall in terms of tenants and in 1978, McDonald's would open where Smiles R Us is presently, People's Bank would also arrive, as well as Western Sizzlin and Firestone as outparcels. The layout of the mall was one way, and the way it was arranged makes me wonder if while Belk was waiting to exit Downtown, Lake Carroll Mall may've wanted Belk to join there. One only knows, but it'd been interesting to've seen however that is just a theory based off of design.

By 1987, Carrollton Crossroads, anchored by Walmart, JCPenney, Goody's, and Kroger was in the works, and Lake Carroll Mall's biggest obstacle was that they had one main attraction, which was Kroger, and they had also looked in the Bankhead corridor in the 1980s, as they were ready to move it appears as they only meant to have a "temporary store" at Lake Carroll Mall. Likely it'd been either by the Kmart, as Kroger could be found with Kmart's in this era, and where Tower Plaza is presently. By the end of the year, December 20th, Carrollton Crossroads would open, and Kroger and Genesis 1 would move, and the mall emptied out by the time the 1990s had arrived. Baskin Robbins stayed for a short time before relocating to First Tuesday Mall, and the mall area was nearly empty, except for Fashion Direct, a local women's clothing store, and Big Lots, a new chain at the time, into the former Kroger. Big Lots would be the longest operating tenant in the shopping center, before closing in 2015. One side of the mall area would for a time be a bar called "Beemers", and the vintage left behind was cool and had a profound effect on me. The former Baskin Robbins untouched, Big Lots still had many features of Kroger, and the mall area was composed of light poles that were very 70s, planters, and seats that's been replaced since.

The story of Lake Carroll Mall is an interesting tale of a good location yet not in a good location due to the close proximity to Lake Carroll and being a flood-prone area. Today none of the original tenants remain, including the outparcels. People's Bank would become C&S, then NationsBank, and a few others before closing and becoming the current home for Sizemore Security. The McDonald's stayed until the mid 2000s, when they debuted a new design that's aggressively been expanded upon nicknamed in the retail circles "The Eyebrow of Doom". Firestone would be gone by the end of the 1980s, and be a number of businesses before becoming currently an Enterprise Rent a Car. As for Western Sizzlin, Ryan's would open on Bankhead where a shiny and recently built Chick Fil A now sits, and by 1998 Western Sizzlin would close their doors. Presently the former Sizzlin is M&J's. The Mall area now is relatively busy, as Lake Carroll Lawn Equipment and Grace Café Church are located and they use the mall area for the most part, and the former uses the former Kroger as well. You can still see a few traces of some of the former shops, and for me, helped me gain my interest in this wonderful profession of retail history. 

Notes/Opinion: In regards to the mall design, and that First Tuesday Mall would have originally for anchors Winn Dixie, Revco, TG&Y Family Center, and the Theatres; as one that can look at things and piece the parts together of what may've been, had the opposite of happened, and Belk had opened at Lake Carroll, I could've seen it becoming a mall, but the odds of it remotely occurring is none to none. However Kroger and Belk did look at another spot in the late 1970s on Rome Street, but that also fell through, and likely was prior to 1978.

Here's photos of Lake Carroll Mall, taken in 2017, and 2018.

Originally Shoe Place.

The original light poles and planters have left the mall.

The ceiling is very 70ish. Note the wood covering, that was hot in that era.

An original light post from the beginning.

Don't find these everyday.

Another view of the mall area. One of the favorite shots.

Up close.

I spy vintage retail gold....

And BULLSEYE! This isn't something you see often!

Former McDonald's, now Smiles R Us.

Didn't know dentists had drive thrus.

Nah they don't.

                                               Note the reuse of the former McD's sign.

                                       Only thing that was removed were the arches in 2006.

                                            One last piece of vintage Kroger Superstore Gold!