Ben D. Johnson, Sr. [1910-2005]
Dayna Bowker Lee
Mr. Ben Johnson was an entrepreneur and humanitarian who helped to build a community while he was building an empire. Beginning at five years old in his hometown of Campti, Mr. Johnson worked to support himself and his family.
“Me and my mother had a little business, she was making meat pies and I would sell them to people at the gin. . . . I sold meat pies on the half with her.”
This first of many home-based businesses bred an entrepreneurial spirit in Mr. Johnson that carried throughout his lifetime. In 1932, at the height of the Great Depression, Mr. Johnson started Winnfield Funeral Home in Winnfield, Louisiana, at the urging of several local businessmen who provided him with seed money of $2.75. He brought that business to Natchitoches when he settled here and, in subsequent years, opened several other businesses including Winnfield Life Insurance and Winnfield Casket Co. Mr. Johnson’s holdings represented one of the largest minority-owned enterprises in the state.
As important as his business accomplishments were, Mr. Johnson’s commitment to his community is his legacy. He provided economic, educational, and social support through his many programs, including the Ben D. Johnson Educational Foundation, the North Street Boxing Club, and the Self-Help Shopping Center. Mr. Johnson also helped to fund and build churches throughout the city.
When I built my casket factory, I had carpenters that could build churches, and I could build ‘em too. And we built churches. We built Asbury Church, I built my church, I built the . . . church in Shady Grove. I built St. Paul church, St. Davis, down at [Cloutierville]. . . . I built the church out here on Old River. I build the two First Baptist churches here in town. And over in Winnfield, I done the same thing, I built, I guess, a half a dozen or a dozen churches over there.”
Ben Johnson was also a leader in the Civil Rights movement, taking up where his friend and mentor, Dr. E. A. Johnson, left off, although he doubted that he could take Dr. Johnson’s place.
“People came to me after Dr. Johnson died. I say, “It ain’t no way. . . . I don’t have it. I can’t do a Dr. Johnson. . . . Dr. Johnson’s dead now,” and they wanted a leader. I say, “Well, if y’all can’t do no better, then I’ll accept, but you need somebody a little better than me.”
Despite his own misgivings and self-doubts, Mr. Johnson stood up for his community. Mr. Johnson received countless honors throughout a lifetime of service. He was named an honorary Louisiana state senator; he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from Northwestern State University, where he established the Ben D. Johnson Endowed Professorship in Business; and he received the NAACP humanitarian services award. Lauded by U.S. President Bill Clinton and South African President Nelson Mandela, Mr. Johnson’s philanthropic activities made him a much-loved and respected leader in his own community.
“Ben Johnson was the leader . . . after Dr. Johnson, then Ben Johnson became President of the Board of civic leaders. . . . See, he was an independent businessman, so he was able to really do the negotiations for the Black community. He was able to pull the Black community together and do all the kinds of things that needed to be done at that point.”
Mr. Ben Johnson remained the patriarch of the African American community in Natchitoches until his death at 95 years old. At the end of his days, Mr. Johnson was tired, but satisfied that he had done what he could to lift up the community he loved.
“I done about all I can do. . . . I don’t expect to do too much more, but I’ve helped, to my knowledge.”
The two small words on Mr. Johnson’s memorial at the Jackson Square cemetery speak volumes about this beloved and benevolent man: “I tried.”
Guillet Collection, #2561, n.d., CHRC