StoryCorps: The Loving Lessons of Sunday School, Sternly Imparted

StoryCorps

Cherie Johnson and James Ransom

In this week's feature from the StoryCorps Griot Initiative, cousins James Ransom and Cherie Johnson look back on childhood summers in Florida, and the Sunday school teacher they both feared and loved.

Johnson remembers that teacher - Ms. Divine - as stern but not mean. "When she said something, she meant exactly what she said."

Growing up, Johnson and Ransom spent a good deal of time at their grandparents' house in Bradenton, Fla., where the extended family would gather on weekends and holidays. For the children, these visits included Sunday school at the local Methodist church.

"In our family, the only thing that would keep you from going to Sunday school, you had to have one foot on a banana peel and the other in the grave," Johnson says.

"You had to go," Ransom agrees.

Johnson adds, "One of the things you prayed for when you were in Ms. Divine's class was, 'Lord, please let me get old enough to get out of this class!'"

Ransom remembers that he would do just about anything to avoid going to Sunday school. But no excuse would pass muster with Ms. Divine. And one of them proved embarrassingly unforgettable for Ransom.

The StoryCorps Griot Initiative travels the country collecting the recollections of black Americans. On Tuesdays, News & Notes features one of these stories. To find out where the StoryGriot Initiative will be next, visit the StoryCorps website. To find out where the StoryCorps recording booth will be next, visit News & Notes new blog, News & Views.