THE LIFE STORY OF ARETHA LOUISE (JOHNSON) WRIGHT

On January 25, 1927, in Harrison County, in the town of Marshall, Texas, Johnnie and Elizabeth (Fitzpatrick) Johnson became the proud parents of their twelfth child, Aretha Louise Johnson, who her family and friends called "Ree."  It was not until 1983, after going to the Vital Statistic office in Marshall to obtain her birth certificate, that she learned she was not born in 1926, but instead in 1927.  Up until that time, her family and she had always reported her birth year to be 1926. Aretha's parents first had six sons: Alfred, William, Eddie, Edmund, Zelmon, and John Doris (J.D.); and then six daughters: Clara Mae, Georgia Mae, Mirtha Lee, Mozell Elizabeth, Iris Elizabeth, and Aretha Louise.  Her parents later adopted a thirteenth child, Rosie Marie.  The family lived in the country and farm life was not easy, with the added pressures of having to deal with a racist society.  Aretha's parents taught their children the value of hard work, self-respect, integrity, high values, standards, and morals.  Although they may not have had much, they made out with what they had and learned to appreciate all that so many people now take for granted.  The family home was filled with a whole lot of love.

The Johnson children grew up in a strict Christian God fearing household and were taught that the only thing that counted in life was what they did for the Lord.  The children carried what they learned from their parents throughout their lives.  The family was divided in memberships between the Pine Bluff Baptist Church and James Chapel Baptist Church.  Aretha reported that she started praying for God to be in her life at an early age and confessed her faith and was baptized at James Chapel Baptist Church at eleven years old.  Aretha often told stories to her children about going to church revivals at night and when it rained, they were not sure if the bridge they had to cross had been washed away, but trusted in God and crossed anyway.  Aretha united with and joined New Hope Baptist Church in 1955.

As a child, Aretha was reported to be very smart for her age and talked a lot.  She was allowed to start school early, and was the smallest, shortest, and fearless of all her siblings. Aretha was remembered as being afraid of very little and often spoke her mind, beginning as a child and carried over into adulthood.     Reportedly, when she was approximately four years old, she was put on a Mother's Day program at her church and without fear, got on the stage and said, "What are you looking at, I am not here to stay.  I am only here to say Happy Mother's Day!"  As an adult, she often jokingly shared with her siblings that her parents had so many children because they were trying to get it right, and did so when she was born, so then had no need to keep having children.  Before their deaths, her adult siblings would simply smile, walk away and say, "Ree has always been a mess!"  Aretha attended James Chapel School in Marshall, Texas and graduated from George Washington Carver High School in Karnack, Texas.  She often talked of having to put cardboard in her shoes or walking barefoot; but bragged that it never put a damper on her having a lot of boyfriends, because "she was a pretty thing and they looked at her face, not her feet."  Upon graduating from High School, Aretha moved from the farm to live in town to attend Espanolas Beauty College and roomed with two roommates in one of the girl's relative's home.  Again, she reported scraping to get by until she successfully acquired her cosmetology license.  Aretha then moved back to the family home in Marshall and worked until she married the love of her life, Clabe Wright Jr.

Clabe, known as Rip, had previously met Aretha when they both attended High School.  After he enlisted in the United States Army in 1942, he began writing her for a friend.  Rip then began writing the letters for himself. He was honorably discharged in 1945, and returned to his parents' farm and began dating Aretha.  In 1946, he moved to Denver, CO with his brother, Cedell; but returned to Marshall, Texas in 1948 to make Aretha his bride.  They were married on the front porch of her parents' home on April 23, 1948. At the time of Clabe's death, on February 6, 2014, they had been married for 65 years and 10 months.  Ree and Rip were blessed to purchase their first home in 1952, and then purchased their second and last home in 1965.  Both took their last breaths in that home.

Ree and Rip were the parents of five children: Ronald Lee, Daniel Louis, Beverly Ann, Nevetta Ann, and Herrell Morris.  Like their ancestors, Ree and Rip wanted their children's lives to be better than theirs.  Aretha and Rip were devoted parents and sacrificed much to make sure that their five children were given opportunities in becoming productive happy adults. Aretha devoted her life to her husband and children.  She took her role as "mama" very serious; and later, her role as "granny" just as important.  She referred to her children as "being like the church's money"…something you didn't mess with.  If anyone messed with Ree's kids, (especially her baby – Herrell), they had a fight on their hands.  Aretha was a true testimony of what it meant to be a "mama" and "granny."  She and Rip always made time for their children and the grandchildren (that lived in close proximity), both as children and as adults. Aretha could cook anything; but her fried chicken, banana pudding, homemade cakes and tea-cakes, sweet potato and egg pies, beans, greens, etc. will always be remembered.  She was an example of strength, kindness, caring, and devotion.  Aretha would do anything for her children if they needed her.  Aretha's goal was to: teach her children what her parents taught her; teach them right from wrong; educate and demonstrate the love of God and the need to make God the center of their lives; teach them the importance of being honest, responsible, and people with integrity; to treat people right; and to be and do the best that they could be at all times.  Aretha's children and grandchildren brought some disappointments and challenges over the years, but she made sure they  knew, with God's help, they could make it and that she loved them regardless.  Ree's children and grandchildren respected, protected and loved her until the date of her departure from this world.

Aretha was a beautiful, gray eyed, petite, classy, spunky woman.  She was kind, loving, compassionate, generous, and a giving person.  Aretha was proud of her heritage and never forgot from whence she came.  Aretha was a true believer that she would be nothing and could do nothing without God.  She was "real" and did not like phoniness.  Aretha was a very smart woman, with a quick wit, and would speak her mind.  If she did not know you, she was a bit shy and did not make "friends" quickly.  Aretha taught her children that the word "friend" had a very special meaning and to get to know who they identified to be a friend.  She would follow that up with saying that the Lord was the measure of what a true friend was.  Aretha had a heart of gold and often put her hand out to those that were rejected or ignored by others.  Over the years, many people have expressed love and respect for her simply because she made those people feel welcomed, and treated then as if they were special. Aretha has been described as being unlike a lot of people because although she had a lot to offer, she was fine to stay in the background and out of the lime light, speak her mind when she felt the need, and was the "Wind Beneath My Wings" for many, as well as for her family.

Aretha had a gift of being able to put clothes together and look like a model every Sunday.  To her husband and children, there was no woman that could out dress or wear a hat like her.  Although, she would joke with family about how pretty she was, she was not a boastful person. She would often talk about as a child having one blue and white polka dot dress that she wore to church every Sunday.  After moving to Denver, it was nothing for Aretha to go to the Goodwill to buy clothes for church, while she bought new clothes for her children.  Even with the "Goodwill clothes," Aretha knew how to look like a million bucks.  She would often thank God and testified how far God had brought her and had now blessed her to be able to give clothes to the Goodwill.

With Aretha's passing, she would want the family to remember her with a smile, her teachings, her love for each of them, her wish for them to be happy and to keep on living and trusting in God, and for them to continue to strive to be the best that they can be.   Herrell, "mama's baby", will never be forgotten for the endless giving of his time, devotion, care, love, and being the arm that both his mama and daddy leaned on.  He gave Aretha the peace and assurance in knowing that her baby was watching over her and would take care of things as she and his daddy wanted; Nevetta's prayers, endless giving of her time, love, patience, care, devotion, fixing meals, and being the contact and "emergency person" in times of need, allowed Aretha to feel God's peace, safe, loved and cared for; Danny's and Bobo's(Bobo passed in January 2024) love, devotion and checking on their mama, gave her peace in knowing they loved her and never forgot her teachings; Belle's prayers, devotion, love, care, and willingness to fill in as needed gave Aretha the assurance in knowing that she would always have someone to fill in when necessary; and her grandchildren's prayers, devotion, giving of their time, love, and help when needed and/or visits, let Aretha know that they loved and respected her.  God called Aretha's name and she answered.  Aretha transitioned to her new home, and although she will be greatly missed, she earned the reward and wings promised by God. Aretha Louise (Johnson) Wright was a blessing to her family and will be greatly missed.  REE and RIP thank you…. You are back together again.

Aretha is preceded in death by her husband, Clabe Wright, Jr, her son, Ronald Wright, her parents Johnnie and Elizabeth Johnson, all of her siblings and various other relatives.

Aretha Louise Wright memories will be cherished by her sons Daniel Wright, Herrell Wright; daughters, Nevetta (Norman) Chapman and Beverly Wright; grandchildren, Daniel Jr  Wright,   Akilah Wright, Courtney Chapman, Whitney Chumbley,  Lynsey Chapman, Toilynn Edwards, Todd Edwards, Tracy Edwards; five great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.