Page 38 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2025 - Online Magazine

Goin’ Band Ups

Their Game:

The Judith Johnson Story

by Jane Bromley

nergetic. Vivacious. Fearless. The adventurous single mom
Motivated. Animated. found herself one weekend
EInspirational. That's without in the summer of ’86 with her
even opening a thesaurus. Judith children on a serendipitous
Johnson’s small stature camouflages campout in Carlsbad, NM,
the human dynamo inside, but where she discovered her
in just a minute or two, her big soulmate, Jerry Johnson. The
personality emerges, and her formula for their successful
audience is captivated. 39-year marriage began
with eloping and a move to
The petite grandmother was born in Lubbock. The blended family
Roswell, NM, in 1959, one of a set of included three boys (9, 7, and 5)
triplets. One sibling did not survive, and two little girls (3 and 1½).
and maybe Judith was born with
enough life and energy for two. She That might have been daunting
graduated from Roswell’s Goddard for a normal couple, but the
High School in 1978, having earned “mellow” Jerry and his high
a spot in the All-State Band and energy wife adapted easily. They
participated enthusiastically on the had a common interest in music
AAU swim team. (Jerry plays the trumpet) and in
medieval history—specifically
She attended New Mexico State the Society for Creative
University on a band scholarship Anachronism (SCA), in which
and performed in the award- they participated for many Judith and company at the TTU/UH game
winning Color Guard, which was years. Jerry is a woodworker
once featured in the half-time show and a photographer who retired
of a Denver Broncos football game. four years ago after a long career
However, her practical parents in electronics that began at Texas
would not allow her to major in Instruments (TI). Today, their
her first love, music. So, the multi- five children have rewarded
talented flutist earned degrees them with seven grandchildren:
in Journalism and Biology. She They include: Jimmy (Jason-27
graduated, married, and moved to and Jaime Beth-15); David and
Ft. Collins, CO. After four years, two Jaime (Nikki-11 and Jack-13);
babies, and an amicable divorce, she Patrick and Jessica (Alex-13,
moved back home to Roswell and in Tessie-11, and Christian-1); Judith with New Mexico State Color Guard, 1979
with her “twin.”

38 Lubbock Senior Link