FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT
J. R. (Sonny) Sessions

EDWARD & LEE EARL JOHNSON

      Today I want to recognize a couple that are more than friends for 
many, many years. I know of many times they were involved in civic 
projects and never given any recognition in earlier years. Thankfully 
this was overcome with time and a new addition to a school they loved 
named and dedicated to them. Both taught in Fairfield Schools starting 
with Dogan and moving up into the system with integration.  As we look 
back we can see what a great job they and other teachers like them did 
for their students under hard conditions, poor facilities and bad 
budgets. They are all to be commended.
  Edward Johnson was involved with the Freestone Co. Sheriffs all my 
36 years as Sheriff, many of them as a Reserve Deputy. He was always 
available when needed, day or night if possible. There have been 
hundreds of sports activities, football, basketball and such he gave his 
time to provide security. He worked hundreds of funerals with some 
help from J.C. Cox. Known as “Chief” due to his Indian features and 
respected by all the students and fans, they may not have liked him but 
did respect him. He could walk into a heated situation and calm it down 
immediately. Many do not realize his being there
made things easier for all. I wonder how many students he and Mrs. 
Johnson helped over the years. Chief and Lee Earl also very involved 
with their church The Jones Chapel Methodist Church in Fairfield.
  Edward Johnson one of the most honest men I have ever known, our 
friendship goes back more than 50 years to when he worked part time 
for Fredrick Hill in his hardware store.
Chief served in the US Navy during the WWII years. After the War I 
am sure he continued his education on the GI Bill, which changed our 
world. He and Lee Earl served as election
judges for many years. Once his integrity was questioned and County 
Judge without the  
authority removed him, even though this is an elected position, Chief 
rather then create a problem stepped aside. There is no doubt in my 
mind he never has or would do anything
wrong, intentionally. Many have and still do “use” this dedicated 
couple.
  Chief and Lee Earl both came from hard working share cropping 
families and had to make sacrifices to receive a education, it wasn’t 
handed to them on a silver platter like today.
Lee Earl’s father Artie Richards farmed and worked for the Hills but 
he was determined his daughter going to college. Lee Earl attended a 
small black college in Crockett where she worked in the dining hall to 
help pay her way. Her trips home were by commercial bus and not too 
often. Both are and always were an asset to anywhere they lived or 
involved. 
Thank you Chief and Lee Earl for being my friend.

                                         ***
                                         
                   Sheriffs Office 1966 A Very Busy Year
  Going thru the old records brought back memories of forgotten 
tragedies and good times and reminded me of how busy things were 
with a three person Sheriffs Office and Jail, still appreciate the help 
from many especially THP Ray, Kellum and Glass, Hugh Whitaker, 
Edward Johnson and others. A few of these were:
  Theft of Weaver Robinson’s saddle and trip to Canton with he and 
others looking for them.
Local lady with mental problems carried to Rusk hospital, each time she 
told us we carrying the wrong one, agreed with her. Woman brought in 
for mental test, passed with flying colors, came by and stuck tongue out 
at us. Local man carried that been so many times personnel would wave 
and greet him with “Hello Cowboy”. Rusk the only place we had to go 
with many then.
  Memorial services here for Bill Boyd III who buried Arlington 
National Cemetery near Washington for service in WWII. Tragedy near 
Fairfield when young woman depressed drowned herself in small stock 
pond. A short time later young woman drowned in Board Bottom 
floodwaters.
  First encounter with best truck tire thief ever known, could strip tires 
and wheels off a parked truck in few minutes, could load more tires into 
vehicles than you could believe, his specialty was truck tire dealers, 
school shops and such, lived in Dallas but had local connections.