Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 10-26-20

Feature
Popular Senior Citizen Celebrates 99th Birthday
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Wednesday was a very special day for one Progress Village resident. The day was special because it was the 99th birthday of Mr. Emanuel Purdee John- son.
He also provides a special quote for each birthday. This year he said, “I’m 99 and doing fine.”
When asked about his se- cret to longevity, Mr. John- son said, “I pray to the Lord, God, and Jesus Christ every day. I also believe that your health is the greatest wealth in one’s life. You have got to take care of yourself.”
He also said there are two things that make any occa- sion festive and that is family
and friends.
During his 99 years, Mr.
Johnson has observed many changes take place, ranging from Civil Rights to Voter’s Rights. He served in World War II and was drafted into the Army in 1942. When it ended in 1945, he was stationed in Ham- burg, Germany, before being discharged in 1947.
Mr. Johnson later moved to Tampa and his family became one of the first families to move into the newly developed Progress Village Subdivision. He and his wife, the late Mrs. Ruby Johnson, raised their 5 sons and 3 daughters in Progress Village.
He retired from DeVoe Paint Company in 1996, after 46 years of service.
EMANUEL P. JOHNSON
... Celebrates his 99th Birthday on October 14th
Mr. Johnson has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors. In June 2015, he was among more than 80 veterans in the Tampa Bay Area who were flown to Washington, D. C.
to tour the Memorials.
In February 2016, U. S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor included Mr. John- son in her Veterans History Project. His story is now me- morialized in the U. S. Li- brary of Congress as a
Veteran of World War II. Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners dedicated the constructed community center and gym- nasium in Progress Village in
his honor.
A native of Marianna,
Florida, Mr. Johnson is the patriarch of his family. His aunt, Mrs. Sarah Purdue, turned 110 on April 10, 2020.
Mr. Johnson is a living source of history. During his lifetime, although a child, lived through the Great De- pression, and countless re-
cessions; the election of 15 men to serve as President of the United States, including the election of President Barack Obama, the first African American to hold the office.
Mr. Johnson said he votes by mail, but encour- ages everyone to get out and vote as the General Election approaches.
“I watch a lot of the late night shows and I’ll be glad when this election is over. I think that everyone who can, should vote because it’s the only way this county will get back to normal,” he said.
Mr. Johnson is a posi- tive individual who is always smiling and willing to share his knowledge. But, he said, you will never hear me said. Pleasant words.”
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