BIOGRAPHY

Nell Johnson was born in Mangum, Oklahoma, USA, on 6 October 1908. She was the third child born to parents Thomas Franklin Ladd Sr. (1876–1962) and Roxie Lyerla Pocock (1876–1916). She had two older brothers, Thomas Franklin (1900–1906) and Burton Andrew (1905–1985). Her mother, Roxie, passed away at the age of 40 in 1916, and her eldest brother, Thomas, died from diphtheria. She and her older brother, Burton, were raised by their maternal grandmother, Mattie Lee Cotton, along with their aunt and uncle, Nell and Oscar Norwood, on a ranch in Endee, Quay County, New Mexico.

In 1927, Nell married her childhood sweetheart, George Ellis Norwood. Together, they owned a drugstore in Clarendon, Texas. During the Great Depression, Nell prepared all the meals served at the drugstore’s lunch counter, which included chicken, ham, tuna salad, and various sweets. In 1929, Nell and George had a daughter, Elise, though the couple later divorced. In 1950, Nell married William “Bill” Johnson. They lived in various locations across California and New Mexico until Bill’s passing after 56 years of marriage.

Nell was an avid gardener, having a victory garden during World War II and later cultivating prizewinning hybrid irises. At 100 years old, she was still canning peaches from her daughter’s tree. A skilled seamstress, she made all of her family’s clothes and was also proficient in embroidery, smocking, crocheting, and knitting. When asked about the secret to her long life, she jokingly replied, “Don’t ask me, I didn’t intend to. I’m as surprised as anyone, and I just take it one day at a time.”

Nell Johnson passed away in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on 11 November 2018, at the age of 110 years, 36 days. She was survived by her daughter Elise Norwood Semrad, as well as three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

Her age has not been validated.

ATTRIBUTION

* Thomas Franklin Ladd Sr. – Find A Grave

* “Albuquerque woman celebrates 108th birthday” – KRQE, 6 October 2016

* “Albuquerque woman celebrates 110th birthday” + [video report] – KRQE, 7 October 2018

* Nell Johnson Obituary – Albuquerque Journal, December 2018

GALLERY