LOUISE MORRISON JOHNSON MIKELL was born on May 2, 1929 to John and Ida Johnson. The family lived on Short Hill Mountain – Buffalo – Murat of Rockbridge County, Lexington, Virginia. Louise was the youngest of her 12 brothers and sisters. Louise was the granddaughter of Mary McDowell and her husband Samuel Johnson. Her father John A. Johnson had 3 brothers including Lacy Johnson (Pharmacist – Pittsburgh, PA), Ernest Johnson (daughter – Doris), and Sydney Johnson. She also was the youngest of the great-great-great grandchildren of Celia Davis born in 1820; the great-great grandchild of Daniel Henry McDowell, born in 1843, and great grandchild of Mary Davis Morrison and Sandy Morrison, born in 1853.

A little-known fact is that our ancestor, Daniel Henry McDowell, became affiliated with Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Daniel led Stonewall Jackson's horse during his funeral. Daniel then moved to Washington, D.C. where he became the doorman at the National Press Club. Louise was very active in researching the history of her family and was very excited to find the history of her family.

Louise grew up in a loving home with a focus on hard work and education. Early in Louise's life, the family worshiped at Oxford Presbyterian Church where her father was also the Sexton of the church. During this same time, the family were members of Cedar Hill Church on Church Road, in Rockbridge County, Virginia, near Lexington, Virginia. The small log church, which also served as a schoolhouse, was built in 1874. The Cedar Hill congregation was formed shortly after the Civil War. Before the church was built, the congregation met under a large oak tree that stood 1 1/2 miles west of the present church. The church was made up of a membership of African American families that lived in the Buffalo/Murat areas of Rockbridge County.

Around 1922, Louise's parents purchased their home at 216 Lewis Street in Lexington. The older children lived at the Lewis Street home and attended the Lylburn Downing School. The younger children continued to live at their home in Buffalo/Murat. When it was time for Louise to go to school, she and her parents made the final move to their home at 216 Lewis Street in Lexington.

The First Baptist Church of Lexington, Virginia became Louise's home church during her early years. She learned the virtues of life and values of a life of hope and honor. Louise was baptized at First Baptist Church at age 9. She served in the junior choir and learned to love music. She also learned to be in the religious sanctuary of God.

Upon moving to the new house, Louise's father purchased a used piano for Louise to take piano lessons. The grand upright piano still sits in the house today. The home is still in our family, 100 years later, thanks to Louise and her husband, Henry Mikell. They restored the house some 30 years ago.

Louise Mikell attended school at Lylburn Downing with her brothers and sisters. Upon graduating in 1947, she matriculated to Morgan State College in Baltimore, Maryland. Louise took classes in elementary education at West Virginia State College. She graduated from Morgan State with a bachelor's degree in English and a minor in History and became a teacher at Lylburn Downing School from 1953-1957. Louise then relocated to Washington, D.C. to live with her siblings. Her sisters and brothers had residences at 18th and California streets, around the corner from Florida Avenue in Washington D.C. The Johnson family was very close to the family of Rosco Hager. The siblings were also very close to their uncle/ fathers brother who also lived in Washington DC. Louise then became a middle school teacher and taught 6th grade, at the Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School.

One fateful evening while attending a party at a friend's home, Louise met a wonderful, generous, and kind young man her same age. Louise and Henry A. Mikell III became fast friends. They were joined in holy matrimony at Lincoln Temple, United Church of Christ, in Washington, D.C. in 1961. Their maids of honor included Rosa Mack, Dorine Adams, and Delia Palin. Henry Alexander Mikell III, of Anderson, South Carolina, and Louise Morrison Johnson Mikell were married for 54 years.

After marrying Henry, Louise taught the 6th grade at Job Barnard Elementary School in N.W. Washington, D.C. In 1972, Louise started working on her master's degree in Urban Studies at George Washington University. Her niece, Carolyn Manning, also matriculated in the Master's degree program. For several years, Louise and Carolyn took classes together. Alexcia, Louise's daughter, and Edison Moore, Carolyn's son and Alexcia's cousin, were the same age and fondly remember their moms sitting in class together. Louise and Carolyn each received a Master's degree in Urban Studies from the George Washington University in 1976. Louise did further studies at Trinity College and the Smithsonian Institution Associates program. She was an excellent teacher. She had the most beautiful Spencerian Script handwriting. Her classroom boards were always meticulously assembled. She was honored to become a teacher in the D.C. Public School's Embassy Adoption Program. Louise's classroom was a part of the Embassy Adoption program for over 10 years. The country of Great Britain worked with Louise and her classroom to educate her students. She was very honored to attend Queen Elizabeth's tea party at the Embassy of Great Britain. Several of Louise's colleagues include: Anita Hammond, Marie Johnson, Ruth Hodges, Edwenia Watkins, Jean Hunter, Marjorie Banks, Cheryl Harrod-Brown, Geneva Pondexter (Cousin), and Henrietta Grant.

Louise joined the Washington Performing Arts Society's Women's Committee, which supported the Embassy Adoption Program with the D.C. Public Schools. WPAS focuses on community service through the performing arts and support for high quality performances. The WPAS Women's Committee is a diverse group of women that assists the community with outreach.

Louise and Henry joined Lincoln Temple United Church of Christ upon their wedding. Their daughter, Alexcia was christened at Lincoln Temple by the Rev. Dr. Channing Phillips. Henry, Louise, and Alexcia then joined Church of the Redeemer Presbyterian where Alexcia was confirmed by Rev. Dr. Cameron Byrd. In 1985, Louise and Henry joined Northeastern Presbyterian Church. Louise became a deacon at the church and served as the Moderator of Women of the church. Louise was also very involved with the MACs of Northeastern.

After an amazing career in education, Louise retired in 1995. She then became a substitute teacher in the D.C. Public Schools at Shepherd Elementary School and in Montgomery County, Maryland at several schools in Silver Spring.

After retirement, Louise became active in her community. She became an election judge in Montgomery County Maryland. Louise also was proud of her volunteer work in the Clinton Administration. She became a volunteer letter writer at the State Department during the Clinton administration.

Louise assisted her daughter with her education by working as a Girl Scout Leader of the Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital. The troop met at the Church of the Redeemer Presbyterian in Washington D.C. Alexcia became a delegate to the Girl Scouts National Convention in 1985. Also, through the Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital, Alexcia worked as a Girl Scout Congressional Aide in the offices of two congressman and Senator Paul Sarbanes of Maryland.

Henry Mikell's father was a Buffalo Soldier in the U.S. Army. To honor his service, Henry and Louise became very active members of the 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Association. They traveled to many conferences throughout the United States with the Buffalo Soldiers. Louise held the office of the Archivist for the national organization. Louise took her grandson, Channing to her last conference, which was held in Denver, Colorado in 2013.

Knowing the history of Cedar Hill Church, whose members worshiped in the fields on the creek banks of the Mountain Gospel Tree Church, Louise pushed to get the Cedar Hill Church on the Virginia and National Register of Historical Places in the year 2000.

In 1995, Louise Mikell entered the sisterhood of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Xi Omega Chapter. Louise always gave her skills and talents for the advancement and better relations among people. Louise was an Information Specialist at the Smithsonian Institution and a Docent at the John Carlyle House in Alexandria, Virginia. Louise wrote two books, "A Short Hill Mountain Story of a Black Family" and "Chad, the Top Cat,", a children's story book. She also illustrated a community map of the Short Hill Mountain community.

Louise traveled to many countries during her lifetime. One of the most memorable trips was to Senegal, West Africa, where she visited Gorée Island with her daughter, Alexcia. Louise traveled to China with Alexcia's friend, Martina Strothers Leonard, and other teachers. She also traveled to London, England and Paris, France.

Louise joined other teachers in writing curriculum materials and articles regarding teaching young students. She used her many experiences in the classroom, in her teacher exchange classrooms, and university classes to mold her students to be successful Americans in our world of changing developments and values. Louise was always supportive of her daughter and family. This could be seen each time Louise visited Channing at his school, The Episcopal Academy. In 2022, Louise was excited attended Channing's lacrosse game. Channing was the light in her eyes where she saw the future.

Louise will be remembered for playing hymns on the Fisher baby grand piano she purchased in 1972. Her daughter Alexcia came to love music so very much that she majored in Voice her freshman year at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts. Louise also purchased a piano for her grandson, Channing, to take piano lessons. Channing has a true interest in music and won an award for his music project at school. Just weeks before she passed away, although she had problems communicating, Louise sat down at the piano and played several piano chords. Alexcia will always remember this moment.

Louise will be greatly missed by her daughter, Alexcia, son-in-law, Joseph I. Wells, and grandson, Channing Wells. She has now joined Deceased sisters and brothers in heaven: Lettie Gooch, William Johnson, Edna Johnson, Clara Pondexter, Rosalie Manning, Mary Mayo, Agnes Johnson, John Johnson, Sarah Cheek, Julia Murray, Esther Linder, and Sydney Johnson. She will be remembered by a host of nieces and nephews:

Lettie: Sonny, George, Patricia and Lewis Clara: Johnand Edward

Agnes: Patricia and Michael Mary: Tommy, Ronald, Phillip, Howard and Janice

William: Doris and William Rosalie: Frances, Paul, Beverly, and Sandra

Julia: Joyce and Jackie Sarah: Valida and Robert

Esther: Rod, Rene Justin, and Eric Louise: Alexcia

Edna: Dorothy

Louise will be remembered by Henry's Cousins, Nieces and Nephews. Henry's Deceased Siblings include: Anna Byrd, Mary Malachi, Robert Mikell – (Daisey Mikell of St. Louis, MO - Living). His Deceased cousins: Rudolph Winston; William Gibson, Bertha Mae Gibson-Mason. Louise will also be remembered by the family of Great-Grandfather James Starks Adams of the cities of Anderson and Greenville in South Carolina. She will also be remembered by her cousins and friends: The Morrison Family, The Beale Family, The Davis Family, The Alexander Family, The Evans Family, The Wood Family, The Shaw Family, The Porterfield Family, The Pondexter Family, The Pleasants Family, The Baker Family, and many others who attended Cedar Hill Church and First Baptist Church of Lexington, Virginia.