Memories of Johnny

If you were to ask Ralph how many siblings he has, he might pause for a moment, as that’s a complicated question. He has one full brother (Johnny) from his parents, Juanita Inglish and John Virgil Mitchell; three half brothers from his mother and stepfather Lester Johnson; and four half sisters and one half brother with his father and stepmother Helen/Recia Etta McClasky. That's 9 siblings total, but with Johnny he felt a special connection as he was his only full sibling.

John Virgil Mitchell Jr., affectionately known as “Johnny,” was born 8 December 1930 in Safford, Arizona. He was the first child of Juanita and Virgil, and named after his father.

Johnny was red-headed (the only one in the family!) and his face freckled. He was 3 years older than Ralph, and though the two brothers didn’t have a very close relationship growing up, Ralph still looked up to him and loved him. "He was a good, protective older brother,” Ralph recalls. “I remember a few occasions where he would jump in and scare off boys who were going to beat up on me...He would protect me."

In social gatherings, Ralph remembers his brother was popular, often surrounded by a half dozen kids. Ralph describes: "He had a spontaneous laugh and a smile on his face all the time. I never saw him angry or disgusted."

When they lived in San Pedro, Ralph remembers going to Cabrillo Beach with Johnny and their parents to swim and play.

And the two shared a room, and a bed! The house that Lester and Juanita had bought in Lomita, at 1620 261st Street, had one bedroom, a kitchen, a living room, and a garage. Lester closed the garage door, walled it up, and made a room out of it. It was a workshop for him, and he put a double bed in the east end of the room where Ralph and Johnnie slept.

Ralph (left), Johnny (right), with their mother Juanita
1936

Ralph (left), Johnny (right), with stepfather Lester
About 1941

Ralph (left), unknown girl (middle), Johnny (right),
with stepfather Lester (back) - about 1941

Johnny (left), Ralph (right), with mother
Juanita (back) - 1941

When Johnny was just 12 years old, he became sick with a ruptured appendix and a few days after he passed away in the hospital on 28 March 1943 in Long Beach, California. He's buried in Roosevelt Memorial Park in Gardena, California.

Thinking of you, Johnny!

Johnny, Long Beach Harbor - 1942

Johnny and Ralph (L-R), Long Beach Harbor - 1942

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This past September, I was in Los Angeles for the weekend and had an afternoon with several hours open, so I decided I'd make a visit to Johnny's grave.

I had called the cemetery office previously and knew the plot number, but stopped by the office in person to view the map. I took a photo of the map (they didn’t have paper copies), and I was off to find the grave.

The location of Johnny's plot at Roosevelt Memorial Park: Section 2292, Lot 6

I found the plot, but was initially confused: The grave marker read John V. Johnson rather than Mitchell. I’d go back to the office to inquire again on my way out. In the meantime, I found his marker partially covered in dirt and hard to read, so I grabbed my bottle of water and the only available cloth I had (the socks I was wearing), and with this humble offering proceeded to clean his stone. Once clean, I gently laid a bouquet of flowers aside the marker, and sat for a few moments, still.

John V. Johnson
Son and Brother
1930 - 1943

Johnny's plot is located just to the right of the trunk of this tree.

On my way out, I went back to the office to double check their records. The office staff pulled out the handwritten ledger from 1943, and the entry is listed as John V. Mitchell. When I called Grandpa Ralph later to learn more about the story, he explained: Neither Johnny nor Ralph were officially adopted by Lester, but they were sealed to him when their mother married/was sealed to him in 1941, so they both changed their last names to Johnson. While Ralph was growing up, then, he went as Ralph Johnson, until high school when he decided to instead return to going as Ralph Mitchell. 

A photocopy of the cemetery ledger for section 2292.
Johnny's info is on the last line (other persons' info is blacked out.)

……….

On 26 October 2018, I accompanied Ralph and Ella to visit with MJ, one of Ralph's first cousins who grew up with him and Johnny. MJ shared these memories (video clip is about 2 min long):

MJ and Ralph sharing memories of Johnny at MJ's home, 26 October 2018.

MJ and friends would sometimes sing the popular song "Oh Johnny, Oh" 

by the Andrews Sisters to good naturedly tease their cousin. 

Any other family members have memories of Johnnie (either first-hand or stories you’ve heard) that you can share? I’d love to add them here!

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Notes:

• From a conversation with Ralph on 1 October 2018.
• Black and white photos from a family album compiled by Ella in the 1990s. Each of Ralph and Ella's children have a copy. Additional photos that Ralph shared.
• Color photos were taken 20 September 2018.
• Video of MJ, Ralph, and Ella taken 26 October 2018.
• Roosevelt Memorial Park: 18255 Vermont Ave, Gardena, CA 90248; http://www.rooseveltmp.com/