Our Unique Stories

charlie bee johnson

1905-1954

Life Story

Early Life & Family Roots

Charlie Bee Johnson, affectionately known throughout the Lawrence community as “Bee,” was born on April 25, 1905 (or 1906, according to some records) in Newton County, Mississippi. He was the son of John Johnson and India Moore Johnson, longtime residents of the Green Grove community in Beat 4.

Bee grew up in a large farming family alongside his siblings Joe, Bertha, Albert, John Henry, and Leatha. Like many children raised in rural Mississippi during the early twentieth century, his childhood revolved around family, church, school, and the seasonal demands of agricultural life.

The 1920 United States Census records thirteen-year-old Bee living with his parents on the family farm. Although he helped with farm work from an early age, he also attended school, learned to read and write, and spoke English—opportunities that reflected his parents’ commitment to providing their children with an education despite the limitations imposed by the Jim Crow South.

Marriage & Establishing His Own Farm

Around 1928, Bee married Annie Laura Collier, beginning a partnership that would span much of his adult life.

By 1930, the young couple was living in Beat 4 of Newton County. Bee had already established himself as a farmer operating on his own account while remaining closely connected to his extended family. Their early years together reflected the strong kinship networks common throughout the Lawrence community, where multiple generations often lived and worked together.

Building a Family

During the following decade, Bee and Annie Laura built a growing family while continuing to farm in Newton County.

The 1940 Census records Bee as the head of his own rented farm. Having completed the fifth grade, he worked approximately forty-eight hours each week as a self-employed farmer while supporting his household.

Together, Bee and Annie Laura raised children including:

Like many farm families of the period, every member of the household contributed to the success of the family farm through daily labor and shared responsibilities.

World War II Era

On October 16, 1940, Bee registered for the World War II draft in Lawrence, Mississippi.

His registration described him as standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 172 pounds, and being self-employed. He named his wife, Annie Laura Johnson, as his nearest relative, reflecting the central role she played in both his family and farming operation.

Although required to register, available records do not indicate that he entered military service.

Life Along the Pulpwood Roads

By 1950, Bee remained deeply rooted in Newton County.

The federal census records him continuing to farm while also working in the pulpwood industry, an occupation that became increasingly important across east-central Mississippi during the mid-twentieth century. Like many rural farmers, Bee supplemented the family’s agricultural income by cutting and hauling timber, adapting to changing economic conditions while remaining committed to life in the Lawrence community.

His household at the time included Annie Laura, sons Eddie Lee and Perry Marshall, and their young daughter Lucille.

Legacy

Charlie Bee Johnson passed away at his home in Lawrence, Mississippi, on November 27, surrounded by the community where he had spent nearly his entire life.

Funeral services were held at Jerusalem Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. J. H. Morris, reflecting Bee’s longstanding ties to the local church and community.

He was survived by his devoted wife, Annie Laura Johnson; his children Eddie Lee, Clyde, Perry Marshall, Fletcher, and Lucille; his parents John and India Johnson; his brothers Joe, Albert, and John Henry; his sisters Bertha Parker and Leatha Carter; and numerous grandchildren, relatives, neighbors, and friends.

Bee’s life reflected the quiet perseverance of countless African American farmers who remained in Newton County throughout the twentieth century. While many families left Mississippi during the Great Migration, Bee chose to remain on the land where he had been raised. Through decades of farming, pulpwood work, family leadership, and community involvement, he helped sustain the agricultural traditions that shaped the Lawrence community for generations.

Research Note

Charlie Bee Johnson is documented through federal census records, his World War II draft registration, and his obituary. These records consistently place him in the Green Grove and Lawrence communities of Newton County, where he spent nearly his entire life. His biography illustrates the experience of African American farm families who remained in rural Mississippi during the twentieth century, adapting to changing economic conditions while preserving strong family and community ties.

Resting Place

Union Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery

Photos/Albums

Sources

  • 1920 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Beat 4, Enumeration District (ED) ___, sheet ___, John Johnson household.
  • 1930 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Beat 4, Enumeration District (ED) ___, sheet ___, Charlie Bee Johnson household.
  • 1940 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Enumeration District (ED) ___, sheet ___, Charlie Johnson household.
  • U.S. Selective Service System, World War II Draft Registration Card, Charlie Bee Johnson, October 16, 1940, Local Board No. 1, Lawrence, Newton County, Mississippi.
  • 1950 U.S. Census, Newton County, Mississippi, Enumeration District (ED) ___, sheet ___, Charlie R. Johnson household.
  • Charlie Bee Johnson obituary, The Newton Record, November 1954.

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