18 Facts About Vernon Johns

Dr Vernon Johns was an American minister based in the South and a pioneer in the civil rights movement.

Vernon Johns is best known as the pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

Vernon Johns was succeeded there by Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

Vernon Johns was born in Darlington Heights, Prince Edward County, Virginia.

Vernon Johns's maternal grandfather was a Mr Price, a white man.

In 1915, Vernon Johns graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary and College.

Vernon Johns attended the Oberlin Seminary, where he studied with classmate Robert M Hutchins.

Vernon Johns was a pianist and music teacher who became a professor at what is Alabama State University.

Vernon Johns was unable to stabilize the school's finances and was forced to resign.

Vernon Johns returned to his family farm for several years.

In 1937 Vernon Johns was called again as a pastor of First Baptist Church in Charleston, West Virginia.

In 1941, Vernon Johns returned to Lynchburg as pastor of Court Street Baptist Church, but was quickly forced to resign by the congregation and returned to the farm.

Vernon Johns refused to sit there and demanded, and got, his money back.

Vernon Johns sometimes ruffled feathers among his upper- and middle-class congregation by selling his farm produce outside the church building.

Vernon Johns noted that one of her inspirations was her uncle, Rev Vernon Johns.

In May 1953, Vernon Johns was forced to resign as pastor in Montgomery.

Vernon Johns returned to his family farm, where he spent the rest of his life.

Vernon Johns died of a heart attack in Washington, DC, on June 11,1965, at age 73.