Life Remember
Grandmother Lenora McCartney Johnson
1895 - 1980
Wife · Mother · Grandmother · Life Captain · Banker
Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
Langston Hughes
In Loving Memory of Grandmother
Lenora McCartney Johnson
My grandmother, Lenora (Norah) McCartney Johnson, was born and raised in Bogue, Eleuthera, Bahamas. In 1943, she married my grandfather and became the proud mother of three beautiful daughters. Due to my mother's illness, she also raised six grandchildren, showing incredible strength and love throughout the years.
I fondly remember Grandma traveling to Brooklyn, New York, with a shopping bag full of groceries. She always brought home fresh bananas, apples, and oranges. Living in Harlem in a cozy two-bedroom apartment, she filled our lives with warmth and delicious meals. Fridays were reserved for cooking fish, while Sundays featured a full meal of chicken.
During the summer, she would take us to the beach, generously giving us money for food and clothing. What made her truly special were her encouraging words. Whenever I came home feeling down due to teasing at school, she would remind me, “Prince, the children are just jealous. You will be a great man one day.”
She had a unique way of helping family and friends, often sending them into her bedroom to receive a roll of dollars tucked into their hands, always ready to lend a helping hand.
Grandma also taught us essential life skills, from cooking and cleaning to grocery shopping and navigating the train and bus systems. Every Saturday, we indulged in Chinese food together, creating cherished memories.