Gladys Johnson Turns 97

Gladys Jean Ramsey was born on July 3, 1927, to Walton Otto “Ott” Ramsey and Georgie Gowens Ramsey. She was born at home, delivered by a midwife, on the Stone County farm her grandfather, John Preston Ramsey, had bought in 1868.

This week, she turns 97 years old.

There were four Ramsey siblings: Newton, Bonita, Gladys and Wanda. Gladys walked across the mountain to attend the one-room West Richwoods School, which still stands. She went to eighth grade twice – not because she didn’t pass, but because her little sister, Wanda, was starting school. Their dad wanted Gladys to watch out for Wanda, especially on the long walk to and from school.

After that year, Gladys went to the old rock high school in Mountain View.

“I walked about a mile and a half to the highway,” she said. “There was an old covered pickup with bench seats around the sides in the back. The kids would ride to school in that. Sometimes I would get a ride with my Uncle Heber Ramsey. He had a store in town.”

When asked about good teachers, she said, without hesitation, “Helen Webb,” who taught English. “And Mr. Campbell. He taught geometry.”

Gladys graduated with the class of 1946.
“There are just two of us still living: me and Bonnie Hudspeth Cartwright. She’s a year older than I am. She’s 98.”

After high school, Gladys married Euell Greenway. They had two children, Johnny and Marsha.

Later, she married Charles Johnson, with whom she shared many happy years.

Charles played the guitar, and she enjoyed the many jams held on her back patio.
For a while, Gladys worked at the Rainbow Cafe in town. Later, she worked at Craig’s Variety on Main Street.

From 1966 until 1972, Charles and Gladys owned and ran the Junction Cafe and Motel in Mountain View, where the Ford dealership is now. They had bought the business from Cleo and Tressie Mae Fudge.

It was a busy time. “We were open from five until nine,” she said. “Charles thought the motel was a good idea, because if people stayed there, they’d eat with us. A room cost five dollars a night.”

At the cafe, hamburgers were 25 cents and cheeseburgers, 30 cents.

Gladys remembered that coffee was a nickle before it was raised to a dime a cup.

Gladys smiled and said, “The ones who complained about that the most were the ones who emptied the whole pot every morning.”

Read the full story in the July 3 issue.