Ernestine Johnson

Ernestine Marie Dickson was born to Pastor Wesley and Evangelist Pauline Dickson (both deceased) on August 8,1931, in Clarksville, Texas, the second child (and first daughter) of seven children. Her brothers, Wesley Jr. and Roy Lee preceded her in death.

In 1943, under the unction of the Holy Spirit, her father moved his family to Los Angeles, California, where he founded the Bright Star Church of God in Christ. He was a pioneer in the early days of the Pentecostal movement in Los Angeles. Ernestine was his first Choir Director and an integral part of the evangelical church.

Always an apt student who loved to learn, she was educated in the Los Angeles Unified School District, graduating from David Starr Jordan High School, majoring in Cosmetology. She practiced this art on her sisters and neighbors regularly and was known as quite a hairstylist. Later, she completed courses in Electronic Assembly and spent many years in this field at Mattel Toy Company and Hughes Aircraft. After retiring from the electronics industry, she became a Playground Supervisor at 118th St. School in Los Angeles, CA.

In 1950, Ernestine met and married Alexander Robinson of Chicago, Illinois. This union was blessed with her only child, Carolyn. After the birth of Carolyn, she relocated to Los Angeles and became, once again, very active in her father's ministry. She fervently served in many capacities and was known for her stirring and spirit-filled singing. She and her "best friend for life", Sister Ann McOwens, were ardent workers and linchpins in the success of the building fund of this ever-growing church. As a result of their efforts, the church moved to a new, larger location where it stands today.

Her love for the Lord did not go unnoticed by Deacon John Johnson whom she later married and moved to Pilot Point, Texas, where they helped build and nurture a small ministry for several years.

Returning to Los Angeles with her husband, she re-joined Bright Star and was an ardent worker in the church giving of her time and finances until his transition.

Soon, she was introduced to Walter Snow, who was a Deacon at Great Hope Baptist Church, in Los Angeles. She called him the "love of her life". They were quite a pair, these two, always dressing alike and seemed as compatible as macaroni and cheese.

In 2001, her only daughter, Carolyn and grand-children, implored her to move to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She and Walter relocated to Sioux Falls, and promptly found a church where they could continue working for the Lord, Rehoboth International Ministries, Senior Pastor Orlando George. Under his leadership, she served as Church Mother until, due to declining health, she moved with her grand-daughter, LaRhonda, to Austin (Round Rock), Texas.

Her husband of nine years, Walter Snow and her daughter, Carolyn Perkins, transitioned home before her. She leaves to cherish her memories her grand-daughters, Charice Adams and LaRhonda McBeth (Will), great-grandchildren, Chauntrice, Patrick, Wesley, Marquise and Destyni and five great-great-grandchildren, Toni, Tatyana, Trinity, Anthony and Leondre, three sisters, Delores Lakey-Stewart(Leon) of Harbor City, Calif, Lynette Terry (Wayne) of Manhattan Beach, Calif., and Darline Gray-Ford (Clarence) of Bellflower, Calif., one brother, Paul Dickson (Maxine) of Las Vegas, Nevada, a god-daughter, Rae-lyn Graham (Mark), her friend of over 65 years, Ann McOwens, the Bright Star COGIC, Great Hope Baptist Church and Rehoboth Int'l families, a host of loving nieces and nephews and extended family and friends.