Vernon Johns was Barbara’s uncle. He was a minister, an intellectual, and an early civil rights activist. He deeply influenced Barbara and Joan’s thinking by giving them an abundance of serious books to read from his large library, including Booker T. Washington’s Up From Slavery (1901), W.E.B. Dubois’ The Souls of Black Folk (1903), Richard Wright’s Native Son (1940), and Barbara’s favorite book, The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells (1898).

Vernon Johns was the controversial pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, from 1947 to 1952. He spoke out against the injustices of segregation and urged his parishioners to do the same.

Reverend Johns was friendly with Martin Luther King Jr. and influenced his thinking on social justice. When he left Dexter, Dr. King succeeded him, eventually becoming the foremost leader of the American civil rights movement.

In her memoir, Barbara recalled the strong influence of her Grandmother Mary Croner when they worked together on her 175-acre farm.

Barbara’s grandmother was also deeply opposed to segregation and prayed that one day her children would eventually speak out against it.

Knowing that Ms. Davenport encouraged free expression, Barbara felt safe sharing her frustrations. When she voiced how unhappy she was with the school and its inadequacies, Ms. Davenport simply replied, “Why don’t you do something about it?”