Willa Johnson Program Sample

HONORING THE LEGACY OF

Willa Dean Thompson-Johnson Willa Dean Thompson-Johnson was born February 26, 1939 in Longview, Texas to Orelious (O.T.) and Pearline (Alexander) Thompson. She was the first of three children born to this union, along with Fred Earl and Walter Ray. The family moved to Oklahoma when Willa was very young. They lived with her father’s aunt in Walnut Grove for a short period, rented a home in what was known as “South Town” on 13th and Harvey before settling in their home in Edwards Addition.

Willa began her education at Edwards Elementary School, which at that time was a one room building. She continued junior high and high school at Frederick Douglas High School where she soared as a majorette in her senior year for the Mighty Trojans. That class was the first to enter the new building at 900 North Martin Luther King. They graduated in 1957.

The Thompson family united with the St. John Missionary Baptist Church soon after moving to Oklahoma and became very active in every aspect of the church.

The church had several choirs including a children’s and junior choir but it did not have a youth choir. Willa was the first choir director of that choir and a couple of their favorite songs were “Life can be beautiful if you live for Him” and “I have decided to follow Jesus.”

Willa was young when she had her son, Steven Craig Hammond and being a young single mom she knew she needed to start working. She went to school and got her cosmetology license and got her first job working at Grashon Spears’ Beauty Shop.

Willa did that for a while, but she knew she needed more school and training to support them. Willa did professional modeling for a while. She had a flair for fashion. Willa completed 63 credit hours in Sociology, Rose State College, Midwest City and Central State university, Edmond, Oklahoma and classroom instruction resulting in certificates of completion from military conducted, including Equal Opportunity Management Institute. Willa received an honorary doctorate degree from Oklahoma City University 2014.

In 1974, she married William Johnson and her son Warren Johnson was born August 30, 1975.

She landed a forklift job at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, OK and then moved up to Recreation Specialist Officer and finally leaving Tinker as the Affirmative Action Officer. After retiring the “The Field”, Willa could not sit still.

Willa was a mover and a shaker and she liked being around people who were moving and making things happen. She was a great debater and had a heart for trying to improve her community so the opportunity came for her to run for the City Council seat representing Ward 7. She LOVED visiting in the community, talking to her neighbors, classmates, friends, enemies and whoever wanted to share their needs in the community and was willing to work.

Willa was a diverse person. She loved problem solving, but she really loved to dance.

That went back to her high school days when she and her buddies William Sadler, Maurice Frazier and Lorenzo Brown would win dance contest on the weekends.

She was also a remarkable singer. She was often requested to “Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughn in places in Oklahoma City that were segregated.

Willa was a person for the people. She believed in Civil Rights and fought for them.

She had over 20 years of experience with the Department of Defense. She was an effective communicator. She was a fund-raising board member of various organizations: YWCA, Neighborhood Services, Urban League of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Leadership program, Black Liberated Arts Organization, Friends of Ralph Ellison Library and Campfire Girls.

She helped charter the Oklahoma Chapter of the “Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc.” and still active. Willa was a member of Bertha B. Clark Chapter No. 13 She developed and adopted legislative, financial and operational policy and still had time for the citizens of Oklahoma City and people everywhere she went.

Willa decided it was time to cover a bigger area and ran for District 1 County Commissioner after leaving her position as City Councilwoman.

WHERE THERE’S A WILLA, THERE’S A WAY became the trademark of her campaign and her work. She was always trying her best to make positive things happen. And if you were near her you ought to be ready to work. It usually started with , “Hi Honey,” or “Hi sugar”, if the next words were” I have a vision”, you better roll up your sleeves, cause everyone around her had tasks. Even with a Campaign Manager and office assistants she still kept things humming. She served Oklahoma County as County Commissioner for District 1 until her retirement in 2018.

And with all of that she loved connecting with her family, whether they were in Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, Florida or any other state, she was always anxious to have a good time with them and she was very proud of all of them.

Willa was a mentor, an advisor and more importantly a friend to this community.

So many things happened as a result of her efforts but one of the most touching moments for her was to be able to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the community center that will be named in her honor. She was touched and truly grateful for such and honor.

Willa was proceeded in death by her parents, her sister, Mary Ann Thompson, her son, Steven Craig Hammond and her grandson, Stevon Hammond.

Her memories will be cherished by her daughter, Nikki Washington of Tulsa, her son, Warren (Jennifer) Johnson of Oklahoma City, OK, her brothers Fred Earl Thompson and Walter Ray Thompson of Seattle, Washington, her sister ,Tracy (Marvin) Austin, her daughter-in-law Cheri Hammond, her grandchildren; Crystal D’Che Hammond, Mason Taylor Givens; Miles Ramsey Givens; Rachel Jean Johnson and Charlotte Dae Johnson; her great grandchildren Ka’Shyla Russell, Tytus Russell; Gabriela Rutherford, Kevin Rutherford, Khalil Rutherford, Gia Rutherford, Giuliana Rutherford, Gage Rutherford and a host of relatives and friends.

Order of Service June 3, 2022 at 11:00 AM St. John Baptist Church 5700 North Kelley Ave., Oklahoma City, Ok Pastor Dr. Major L. Jemison ~ Officiating

Processional Scripture Reading Old Testament Rev. LaMont Bray St. John Baptist Church

New Testament Dr. Lawrence Kirk St. John Baptist Church

Prayer Rev. David Dawson St. John Baptist Church

Song “In His Safety” St. John Baptist Church Choir Resolutions and Acknowledgements

Reflections The Honorable Mayor David Holt Oklahoma City Council Woman Ward 7 Nikki Nice County Commissioner Carrie Blumert District 1 Church Reflections Kim Tomlin Family Reflections Rev. Michael Alexander Song “His Eye is on the Sparrow” St. John Baptist Church Eulogy Dr. Major L. Jemison Video Recessional

Chair/Vice-Chairperson - Board of County Commissioners Chair - Association of Central Oklahoma Government (ACOG) Board Oklahoma State Fair Board of Directors Vice-Chair and Chairperson of the NLC Community and Economic Development (CED) Committee Charter member of the Central Oklahoma Top Ladies of Distinction Oklahoma Women’s Coalition International Professional Business Women Friends of Ralph Ellison Library and Allied Arts Trustee of the OKC Zoo Trust Oklahoma City’s Finance, Economic Development, and Capital Improvement Committees Chair of the Neighborhood Conservation Committee Active role with Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) for kids Oklahoma Riverfront Redevelopment Authority Oklahoma City Museum of Art Board Oklahoma Science Museum Development Committee Rebuilding Together Program Committee Oklahoma Health Foundation Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Achievers Member, Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce Member, Oklahoma Municipal League (OML) Member, National League of Cities (NLC) Director of the NLC Board, the NLC Advisory Council and liaison to the CED Committee Member of Rotary Club 29 Life Member of the Urban League Boy Scouts Girl Scouts Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Black Chamber of Commerce Member OKC All Sports Association Board Member