EBJ “…The Wonders of the Woman From Waco” Dr. Haynes My Day
By Dr. J. Ester Davis
I remember the ‘pomp and circumstance’ of electing the woman from Waco.
Her name was Eddie Bernice Johnson, affectionately referred to as EBJ.
And today, Wednesday, January 10, 2024, we celebrated the trials and traverse of the ‘woman from Waco’, Texas, through the cross bars of the Veteran Administration-to-Texas History-to-American History to her final resting place in Austin, Texas. It was amazing for me as a young paralegal to watch this royal lineup of black history makers in South Dallas create this ‘ideal’ for their people. Her polished image was one young women adopted and emulated. Dr. Emmet Conrad often introduced her at the African American events. The Prince Hall Masons, where the Sovereign Grand Commander resided at the time, introduced her to the supreme orders. Noah Brenham, a labor union ‘boss’, was a person EBJ always recognized when in his presence. She never forgot his name or position. The other black doctors, i.e., Drs., Dorsey, Paige, Thompson, Mason, Prince, Watkins, Lundy acquiesced their wives, patients and their networks for not only the Democratic VOTE, but upfront and personally for EBJ. The massive cohesive coalition of DISD Teachers continued to support her every move and were indeed the power behind the play. I recall vividly the two “Eddie’s”. Eddie Brice Cunningham (EBC), aka Attorney E. Brice Cunningham, who appeared before the United States Supreme Court on behalf of DISD’s desegregation of schools and Eddie Bernice Johnson (EBJ) who continued to affect the excellence of DISD. It was equally as endearing to hear the two ‘Eddie’s talk about their names.
The funeral for the ‘woman from Waco’ was one-of-a kind. The Mayor of Dallas called her the ‘lioness of the city’. One of the grandsons cited her as ‘fierce and feminine’. Attorney and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries was remarkable in his accounting of who EBJ was meeting with in heaven. Mickey Leland, Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan. In the background I heard addendum to this lineup…Thurgood Marshall, Benjamin Hooks, Ali. Others speakers spoke of her as the ‘quiet giant’ in Congress, comparing the workhorses to the show horses.
And finally, the Eulogist! This was a stroke of genius…and so appropriate for this time on this occasion. I have received several questions in the last 12 hours about the Intention Able Rev. Dr. Michael Walker. Michael was a gifted child prodigy who grew up in the South Dallas community attending Salem Institutional Baptist Church with his family. The family business was a restaurant in the Stemmons Towers on Stemmons Freeway. Young Michael started preaching as a pre-teen. The churches in South Dallas were all too familiar with him as a young evangelist. His fame was electric! Michael Walker was on my youth movement agenda every year and his storied life is a masterpiece. He pastored a distinguished church in Boston, Mass., for years and upon retirement moved back home. On one of my travels years ago, I was reminded where he was and made adjustments. The beauty of this man called Michael, is at an impressive age he affected immensely so many youth nationwide.
On a personal note Michael’s Dad, Johnny Walker, introduced me to a man I later married. Johnny kept tabs on us throughout our two-year courtship. Thank you to the people and City of Dallas.
