Thursday, December 26, 2024

Randy

Randy, the youngest and only son, attended Forest Park Senior High School and graduated with the Class of 1977. He married early, and alongside his wife, they welcomed their son, Robert, before the marriage failed. 

In 1985, Randy’s desire to serve his country found its fulfillment as he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Johnnie and Lucile beamed with pride as they witnessed his boot camp graduation.


Diane, Lucile, and Tammy
 

Boot camp graduation. Randy was the platoon leader.


Randy served in Company D, 1st Battalion


Johnnie and Randy

Randy served for 20 years, including a yearlong deployment in support of Operation Iraqi freedom with the 277th Maintenance Company. The photos below capture moments from that significant period of his life. 


Lucile, her great grandson Nicholas, and Kayla waiting for Randy to deploy


Diane, Randy, and Lucile


Lucile had faced deployment with Johnnie,
now with her son Randy


Randy, his wife Vanessa, and daughters
Jennah and Kayla


Randy says goodbye to Jennah as he deploys for Kuwait


Randy in Kuwait

After retiring from the military in 2006, Randy joined Chick-Fil-A Corporate Headquarters, where he worked for 14 years. However, in 2020, he received a life-changing diagnosis: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), linked to his service near a large burn pit in Kuwait. The Veterans Administration declared him 100 percent disabled in 2020 due to this debilitating condition. 

Vanessa, Randy’s devoted wife, now serves as his primary caregiver. Together, they navigate life one day at a time, supported by their two daughters—Kayla and Jennah. Randy and Vanessa’s marriage began in August 1988, and their bond is strengthened by the love and care they share.

Johnnie held Vanessa in high regard, treating her as if she were his own daughter. Her presence brought joy to the family, and Johnnie cherished her as part of their close-knit circle.


Randy, Johnnie, and their pet parakeet


Randy and Johnnie Marston (1964)


Johnnie and Randy


Vanessa, Randy, Lucile, and Johnnie

Throughout the years, Johnnie and Lucile faithfully visited the graves of their ancestors. Accompanied by Diane, Nancy, and Randy, they gathered at the cemetery, often with Leola, paying their respects and sharing stories about their family’s history. Randy has continued this solemn tradition, honoring the memory of those who came before him, as shown in the photos below.



Randy at Stacks family graves

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Diane and Nancy

Diane, the eldest of the Marston children, attended Forest Park Senior High School and graduated with the Class of 1964. She later married Willis Merritt, and blessed Johnnie and Lucile with two grandchildren, Stony and Tammy. Unfortunately, around 1972, Diane was diagnosed with yellow jaundice, which later developed into hepatitis, ultimately destroying her liver. After receiving a liver transplant in late 1990, Diane was able to enjoy 18 years of life before her health slowly started to decline, and she passed away in 2008. Her final resting place is at Forest Hills Memorial Gardens in Forest Park.


Diane and Johnnie


Diane and Johnnie


Diane


Diane, Johnnie, and Nancy


Diane


Diane


Diane, Lucile, and Randy (2006)

Nancy, the middle child, attended Forest Park Senior High School and graduated with the Class of 1970. In April 1974, when she was 21 years old and six months pregnant, Nancy was involved in a tragic car-truck accident in Atlanta. The accident claimed her life and that of her unborn daughter, Dawn. They were laid to rest together at Forest Hills Memorial Gardens in Forest Park. The loss deeply affected Johnnie and Lucile. 


Nancy


Randy and Nancy (May 1971)


Nancy

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Family ties

Johnnie maintained strong ties with his Marston siblings, bridging the distance through visits to Miami, while they reciprocated by journeying to Georgia. These family reunions were more than mere vacations; they were cherished moments of shared laughter, stories, and love.

Among his siblings, Evelyn and her husband Bill held a special place in Johnnie’s heart. Their connection ran deep, intertwining with the lives of their children: June, Billy, and Bobby. Together, they wove a tapestry of family bonds that transcended miles and years.


Lucile and Johnnie’s sister Evelyn in Miami


Johnnie with his sisters Evelyn and Kate in Forest Park
(ca. 1986)

Vacations were another highlight in Johnnie’s life. He took his family to Panama City, Florida, where they built sandcastles, chased waves, and created memories. The majestic Gatlinburg mountains in Tennessee also witnessed their laughter and adventures. Johnnie’s cars were his pride; they gleamed with meticulous care before every road trip.


Johnnie and Lucile on a Florida vacation visiting family (July 1973). 
Both were in good health and Randy feels this was probably some of the
happiest times of their lives.

And then there were the annual fishing trips. Randy, wide-eyed and eager, accompanied his father from ages 8 to 14. It became a cherished tradition—a father-son bonding experience. Sometimes, Randy’s friend would tag along, adding to the joy. Deep sea fishing was their escape, a chance to reel in stories and laughter as they cast their lines into the vast ocean.


Johnnie


Johnnie and Randy

Johnnie had a soft spot for Christmas. He loved that time of the year. As the family gathered in their home for the holiday, Johnnie would don a red sweater and play Christmas music. The record player would come alive with the sounds of Bing Crosby singing White Christmas, Elvis singing Blue Christmas, and Nat King Cole singing The Christmas Song or O Holy Night. Step into the kitchen and you would find Lucile busy baking sausage cheese balls and a favorite lemon cake to share with loved ones.


Johnnie

Johnnie cherished his three children—Diane, Nancy, and Randy. 


Johnnie holding Randy, Lucile, Diane, and Nancy (March 1960)


Diane, Randy, and Nancy on Christmas morning


Randy, Lucile, Johnnie, and Diane

Thursday, December 5, 2024

Life After the War

Johnnie, true to the promises he made in his wartime letters, was determined to restore normalcy, and enhance the quality of life for both himself and Lucile upon his return from the war. They found comfort living in their home in Red Oak, a community situated in the City of South Fulton, Georgia, owned by Lucile’s father, Sam. This home held special meaning to Johnnie and Lucile. It was the very place where they had shared their lives before the war separated them, and during Johnnie’s absence in Italy, Lucile continued to reside there. 


Marston family home in Forest Park, Georgia

As children, Lucile’s sister Betty and niece Shirley were frequent guests, often staying over on weekends or for a day or two during the week. The youngest Stacks child, Melvin, and Kate Marston’s son, Bennie, also spent weeks with them during the summer months. Johnnie, too, shared many moments with this lively group during that time. 

In his letters, Johnnie frequently expressed his longing for children. By the close of 1945, his wishes were about to come true: Lucile was expecting their first child. Their daughter, Diane, arrived in 1946, followed by another daughter, Nancy, in 1952, and finally, their son, Randy, in 1959.

Johnnie, like countless soldiers, carried scars—both seen and unseen—from the war. Haunted by what he witnessed on the battlefield, back home, the fight continued for him—but this time from within. Johnnie suffered from PTSD. Prior to the birth of his children, he quietly struggled with drinking, the weight of his experiences pressing heavily upon him. However, with the unwavering support of Lucile, he found healing and gradually moved away from the ongoing battles within himself. His drinking became limited to social occasions, and eventually, he managed to quit altogether. Thankfully, this demon never disrupted their household.

Johnnie initially set his sights on becoming a mechanic. With the support of the G.I. Bill, he enrolled in mechanic classes, hoping to acquire valuable skills. Odd jobs helped him navigate financial challenges during this time. However, life had other plans for him. Although it remains uncertain whether he completed the classes, Johnnie never pursued a career as a mechanic. Instead, he found himself working as a pressman at the Gaylord Box Company in South Atlanta near Lakewood Park, starting in 1952. His role involved contributing to the production of corrugated boxes. To shorten his daily commute, Johnnie made the decision to move his family to Forest Park.


Johnnie working the forklift at Gaylord

In the early 1950s, Lucile worked as a seamstress at the Arrow Shirt Company. Later, in the early 1960s, she transitioned to a job at Crown Cork and Seal, where they specialized in producing bottle caps. She continued working there until approximately 1973.


Lucile (1956)


Johnnie (1956)

Around 1975, life took an unexpected turn for Johnnie. A seemingly routine task—retrieving mail from a neighbor’s steps—resulted in a fall that fractured his hip. The injury forced him into early retirement and from that point forward, Johnnie leaned on a cane for support. The retirement pay he received was modest, leaving him with limited resources. Lucile continued working part-time at the warehouses at Fort Gillem, a U.S. Army Post located in Forest Park, to ease the financial burden.

Johnnie was a man of many passions. His love for sports was unwavering, and he reveled in the excitement of both college and professional football games. His interests extended beyond the gridiron; he was also a devoted baseball fan. If not watching a game on television, you might catch him at an Atlanta Crackers or Braves game. His bond with Randy, his son, was unbreakable. Together, they shared countless hours watching games. He loved Nascar too. Richard Petty was his racing hero, and he made sure Randy experienced the thrill of the Atlanta 500 firsthand when he was just a wide-eyed 10-year-old.

Johnnie’s heart belonged to family. The Stacks—Leola, Betty, Shirley, and Elvie—were his neighbors, living on the same street in Red Oak before Johnnie and Lucile moved to Forest Park. Whenever he strolled through the neighborhood, he would stop by each of their houses, spreading warmth and laughter. On Valentine’s Day, he would surprise them with heart-shaped boxes of candy, a sweet gesture that reflected his caring nature. The bond among the Stacks siblings endured throughout their lives. They resided near one another, and each year, reunited in Red Oak on Mother’s Day for a family gathering.


Earl, Leola, Nell, Lucile, Betty, and Melvin Stacks


Stacks family reunion—Melvin, Leola, Earl, Nell, Mary, Lucile,
Geral, and Dorothy


Stacks family—Earl, Cecil, Dorothy, Lucile standing; Betty and Nell sitting


Stacks family—Betty, Leola, and Lucile


Melvin’s wife Margie and Earl’s wife Elvie

Leola, a widow living alone, held a special place in Johnnie’s heart. He would sit with her for hours, sharing stories and keeping her company. Lucile understood this bond and encouraged Johnnie’s visits. His playful spirit endeared him to everyone; he loved cracking jokes and being delightfully silly. Beneath the humor, though, was a kind and generous soul.


Leola