Born Bertha Ann Richardson on August 6, 1920 to parents Ader I. Crone and Erskin David Richardson of Quitman, Texas, Bert was 1 of 7 siblings, descendant from German and English Pioneers of East Texas. She graduated from Quitman High School in the class of 1940 and married Herman Johnson that same year. My Grandma, Patricia Ann Johnson was born the following summer, 1941. Her son, Danny Johnson was later born, 1944. Bert went to work at the Champion Papermill in 1953. There she met Earl Newton and later re-married in 1962. They both retired together in 1977 and 1978.
Bert’s father was a very stern man. He would not approve of her adopting fashionable trends. Still, she wanted to pluck her eye brows. Her solution was to make her own pair of tweezers. I actually recall her showing me with her hands how she flattened the edge of the medal down. She then took her little mirror with her to the outhouse and arched her brows. Well, she told me that she messed up and tweezed too much off. Her solution, wear her bonnet extra low over her forehead and pray her Popa didn’t notice. It all seemed to be working for her until supper time came and she was asked to remove her head garment at the table.
Another time, Bert took the opportunity to ride into town with her Popa. She saw the prettiest shade of pink finger nail polish in the drug store. She made sure to explain to me that the polish was 10 cents. Later she happened to find a dime on the ground. She picked it up and asked her Moma if she could use it to buy polish. After that, she always had polish on her nails. She would take it off on Sunday and let the nails breath all day, then in the evening she would reapply.
Earl passed in 2005. Not long after that Danny’s health declined to the point where he needed to reire and move in with his Moma. In truth, I believe that the two of them kept each other going for a real long time. They both loved their sports, the Cowboys and Astros were their favorites. I’d go over and visit and it would be entertaining for me to watch them getting worked up over the drama and the plays. I’m telling you, you haven’t lived until you see a 90-year-old woman throwing her arms in the air, directing the plays and blowing her gasket. It got their blood moving and kept them active for sure. Apart from the games, they attended their home church regularly at Fellowship Missionary Baptist.
Bert was born in her family’s farm house and so it was very fitting for her that she passed on to be with the lord in her daughter, Patricia’s home. Grandma, over the past decade you have given so much of yourself for her and Danny’s care. On behalf of our family, I want to honor you for all your efforts preserving your Mother’s dignity and spirit till the very end.