EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was produced and released on Friday, November 10, which is Texas-based actress Lucretia Johnson’s 52nd birthday.
DALLAS — Earlier this week, Lucretia Johnson was asked why it is imperative that she esteems other highly than herself, as we are reminded according to scripture.
“The smallest act of kindness can change someone’s life,” Johnson explained during an interview with Making Headline News. “This is what motivates me to what I do daily.”
That about which Johnson is alluding is her widely-publicized tenure as an accomplished actress, a career that has greatly afforded her with golden opportunities to put her immeasurable talents on display, all while impacting a younger generation in the process.
A native of Nacogdoches — a small, rural East Texas establishment with a population of roughly 32,996 residents, according to the latest U. S. census taken in 2010 — Johnson is not only doing big things in a Lone Star State where people are accustomed to doing big things but, much to her delight, she’s having a massive impact in this ever-so-competitive acting industry.
“What I like most about acting is I can be anyone I want to be and (I have) the opportunity to show children of color possibilities and opportunities they don’t normally consider,” Johnson said.
Armed with a wealth of acting — and modeling — experience, Johnson is has become a fixture also through her tireless effort and solid body of work as Project Manager for Headline Mentors and Performing Arts (or H.M.P.A.).
Through this Arlington, Texas-based nonprofit organization, Johnson’s notable responsibilities include helping mentor youths through prefixing arts, especially inner city, low income youths, whereby she customarily provides them with skills and opportunities that they never thought could be possible.
“I just love helping people and that is what God put us here to do,” said Johnson, adding that a planned trip to Los Angeles is presently in the works with the H.M.P.A. youths sometime in Spring 2018.
All things considered, if anyone is thoroughly qualified through acting to empower and inspire a younger generation, it is Johnson.
Consider, for instance, her remarkably impressive professional acting resume, which includes having appeared in an episode of TV One’s Fatal Attraction that was filmed in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Interestingly, she appeared in an episode of the show, Murder Made Me Famous, during which the subject was the infamous and controversial Jim Jones story.
Fortunately for Johnson, that she has been afforded the luxury of appearing on what many would label acting’s grandest stage, her immense gifts and talents have allowed her to put her skills on display in a variety of places throughout the country.
“I have been blessed to travel and work in Atlanta and throughout Texas,” said Johnson, who is scheduled to go on tour in December as part of a stage play that was written and directed by Greg Ellis entitled, “Watch Night.”
The tour will cover three states and seven cities, most notably Atlanta, Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina, as well as Tyler, Beaumont, Austin, Houston, Texas.
In addition, Johnson recently completed two independent feature films: “Meeting The Folks,” a family comedy that was written and produced by Fred Tee, and “Shattered Love,” a family tragedy and domestic abuse-oriented project that was written and produced by Corta Ish.
Also, Johnson is involved in a short independent film called, “Ripples,” a project that was written and produced by Michael Green whereby the subject addresses sickle cell anemia and HIV.
As if that isn’t enough to turn heads and draw rave reviews, Johnson will be a part of a January stage called, “When My Heart Stops,” a compelling project that addresses grief and was written and produced by Jeanette Greenwood.
Having worked more than 25 years as an apartment complex Property Manager in an inner city, low income setting, Johnson — a former domestic violence and abuse victim — acknowledged that such a chapter of her life is where she learned some of her most influential and vital lessons, in large part because she had become greatly inclined to expose rebuilding communities to an assortment of positive things.
For what it’s worth, inspiring others to see from beyond where they were and make their dreams realities ranked near the top of the list.
“My mother, Merrylyn Johnson, raised me, believing I could accomplish anything,” said Johnson, who’s been acting professionally for approximately seven years while serving as a mentor for a little more than four years. “I lost sight of that for a while.”
Johnson, as it turned out, had eventually adopted a newfound disposition on life when her lifelong companion had come along.
“When I married my current husband, Eric Johnson, he encouraged me to be all I can,” Johnson said. “He gave me the freedom and support to pursue my goals. He said, ‘Just go for it a let’s see what happens.’”
The rest, as they say, was history for Johnson whom, to her credit, coupled with her husband’s unyielding support, is walking in the divine purpose for which God created her.
“God put us on this earth to help our fellow man,” Johnson said.
Which, fortunately for her, is more valid proof why it is imperative that she esteems other highly than herself, as we are reminded according to scripture.
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
Andre Johnson is Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.