"My Branch", as told by Daphne Jean Wright-Johnson AKA: "Neg"

As a third generation descendant of Stephen and Dollie Wright, I want to share some family history with my grandchildren, great grandchildren, great nieces & nephews, and great cousins. It's so important for our young people to hold on to and cherish this information. Without doing so, our family tree information would be lost.

Stephen and Dollie Wright were my great grandparents. Daniel (son of Stephen & Dollie) and Lizzie were my grandparents. Stephen (son of Daniel and Lizzie) and Nannie Beatrice Stewart Wright, were my parents.

I was born and raised in rural Louisa County, Virginia. I have five siblings: (1 is now deceased)
Erlener E. Wright Mason (Erden)
Julia M. Wright Johnson
Carl W. Wright
Charlotte T. Wright Young (Puddin) - deceased
Robert Steverson Wright (Steve)

I am married to G. Lenwood Johnson, whom I met while we both attended Louisa Training School. After we both graduated, we went on to marry and had seven children. They are:
Garrett A. Johnson (married to Clara Staples Johnson)
Mark A. Johnson
Aaron L. Johnson - deceased
Lenwood O. Johnson
Daphne E. Johnson-Johnson (married to Daniel E. Johnson)
Stephanie J. Johnson-Mosby (married to Harry C. Mosby III)
Dale V. Johnson (married to Carmella Brunson-Johnson)

We have 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

I remember growing up in Grandpa Dan's and Gran Lizzie's big wooden house in the field across from Peach Grove Baptist Church. There were a lot of us that lived together. We were an extended family. I don't know how we did it, but we did it. My whole family slept in one room, where there were two beds. Mom and Daddy in one bed, and the 5 of us in the same bed. Three at the head and two at the foot. I am sure the younger generation can't imagine growing up like that, but "we made it!". We were poor and didn't even know it, because we had so much love for each other, which kept us strong.

I was very excited when it was my turn to "Ring the Bell". This was a special memory! Grandpa Dan use to let us take turns on Sunday Morning, to go across the road to ring the church bell . . . "Come to Sunday School". Everybody in the neighborhood knew it was time to come to church.

Grandpa Dan, Cousin Katherine, and my sister Erden, would take turns teaching the children. We had cards with pictures on one side, and a bible story on the other side. Our Sunday School lesson was to take turns reading our cards and then discussing with the others what we had read. THOSE WERE THE DAYS!