Ralph Lesley Johnson

In loving memory of
RALPH LESLEY JOHNSON

And his supportive sister,
LAUREL ANN BERRY

A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34

Ralph Johnson did not need incentive like getting his hands on the family car to attend Epworth League. He was a faithful participant from the start. As a young man, he stretched his spiritual wings, feeding an enthusiasm for youth ministry, certifying as a lay preacher and, for a time, even considering a call to the lay ministry. However, when, after a long struggle, he accepted his sexual orientation and met his life partner Cedric, he decided on a different direction in life. They built a life and a successful floral business together and enriched the lives of our family with love and support. Ralph remained a faithful member of the United Methodist Church, serving God through music, numerous acts of kindness and, of course, flowers, until his death by homicide in 1989. Because he was gay, his death was investigated both as a hate crime and as a crime of opportunity. His assailants were never caught, so the reason for his senseless death is known only to them and to God. What we do know is that we miss him very much.

Given by Laurel's family to honor her wishes to share her brother's story and to support the ministry of the Shower of Stoles.

Ralph's stole is green linen, with flowers embroidered down the center of the entire stole. The United Methodist Church's red and black "Cross and Flame" symbol is on the bottom of one panel, and on the bottom of the other panel is a photograph of Ralph and his sister, Laurel, each with an arm around the other, standing on the front steps of a home. The stole was given to us by a member of Ralph's family when I was in Toledo, Ohio a couple of years ago participating in an ecumenical conference. Ralph, I'm told, was a remarkable, faithful, man of God, and was a very active lay leader in the United Methodist Church from high school until he was murdered. Although Ralph's assailant was never caught, and therefore the motive was never established conclusively, I was told that the evidence overwhelmingly suggested that it was a hate crime and that it was treated as such. (Note: Epworth League was a youth ministry of the United Methodist Church)

Ralph is one of three gay men represented in the Shower of Stoles collection who were murdered in hate crimes. This is one of the six stoles that I took with me everywhere I went.

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006