Johnny's store opened during the first term of Pastor Marvin Haire of the First Baptist Church. The reason I remember is that he did a dedication service for it. Pastor Haire came here the first Sunday in July of 1951 and he left in March of 1953. I would say the store opened in 1952. Johnny was in World War II and his wife, Chat, worked with the A & P Grocery store in Beaufort while he was away.
When Johnny came home, they took over Mr. Alvie's store which was located where the Davis Park is now. After a few years, they built this store. Uncle Abe Davis built it and Johnny paid him to pick up the nails he dropped. Uncle Abe was doing a lot of building in that time frame. He bulit Arcie and Mabel Piner's house in 1946. He had finished it when he started building mine in 1949.
I am attaching a picture taken in Mr. Alvie's store while Johnny and Chat were operating it.
Thelma Pittman
