Stene Johnson

Stene Johnson reflected on her upbringing in Sumter, South Carolina, where self-sufficiency and community were a way of life. She recalled that there was no need for grocery stores—families grew their own food and shared it generously. Visitors were always welcomed to eat, usually outside under the trees, since there was no air conditioning. These spontaneous gatherings were more than reunions—they were a way of being. While children often ate separately from adults, they shared the same meals. Stene noted how, on Sundays, some families fed pastors first and children last—something she didn’t agree with, believing family should come first. She spoke of a time when even basics like toothpaste weren’t store-bought; instead, baking soda and salt were used. Most store trips were only for necessities like washing powder, or soap. Stene ended with a powerful message about remembering one’s roots: “If you forget where you came from, you have no idea where you’re going.”