GUEST COMMENTARY: BY ADAIR WHITE-JOHNSON
(EDITOR’S NOTE: It is quite obvious that Adair White-Johnson inherited the superb writing skills of her late father P. Anthony White, who was one of The Bahamas’ outstanding journalists. When I read this excellent tribute posted on Facebook today by Adair to one of her sorority sisters who recently died, I had to share it as a Guest Commentary with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE.)
ATLANTA, Georgia, March 4, 2023 — When your mother dies when you’re only 14, and your Dad lives in a different country, you can find yourself searching for that mother figure.
And, you can find yourself yearning for guidance and understanding about what it takes to be a “Phenomenal Woman.”
For me, I was in constant flux — navigating my high school and college years with an innate desire to be nurtured by a mom.
Fortunately for me, there were many women who were willing to step up and step in to fill the gap — Each one perhaps sharing a different needed skill set to help me to become the woman I am today.
Once I became an Alpha Kappa Alpha woman (well, an 18-year-old teen at the time😜), my graduate Sorors became that band of Mamas that I desperately craved in my life.
Beyond sorority life, they shared key nuggets about living a life full of gratitude, grace, dignity, and prosperity.
And I needed all of that.
My Soror Johnnie Mayo was one of those Sorors in my “Mama-Love” circle who would take the time to share her wisdom.
I wanted her style and grace.
Her patience.
Her leadership skills.
Diligence.
And so much more.
I watched her from afar and took notes.
And asked her the questions I wanted answers to.
And, she always responded.
She listened as I tried to figure what to do as a first-year School Counselor (I was only 21) and she was an Assistant Superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools.
She shared great “do’s and don’ts” about marriage before I walked down the aisle.
And when I had complications during my first pregnancy, she held my hand and reassured me that everything was going to be alright.
I did a horrible job of keeping in touch once I moved to Atlanta (remember, this was pre-Social Media and cell phones), so we lost touch. I loosely kept up with her by asking others (you know err’body know err’body in Buffalo 😍).
When I returned to Buffalo to participate in the 75th anniversary of the graduate chapter I had a list of my Mama Sorors I needed to see and touch.
Soror Johnnie was at the top of it. 💖
We chatted for a bit and I told her about the impact she had on my young life — and the gap she filled and I profusely thanked her.
You see, as a mom of 5, I know how fulfilling the role is but also how exhausting it can be. So, to take time to mother anybody else, is definitely a “sacrifice.”
I wanted Soror Johnnie to know that I appreciated every moment of her time that she gifted me with from 18-25 years old.
I am soooooo happy I attended the gala and took photos with my amazing Soror Mamas because I knew they were aging (If I was 55 then many were probably late 70’s and early 80’s).
I treasure this picture and am soooo grateful, thankful, and blessed that I had Soror Johnnie in my life.
Rest in Peace my Beautiful Soror.
