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BIOGRAPHY:  Rev. Magnolia Johnson-Lewis 

“Who can find a virtuous woman?  For her price is far above rubies…(Proverbs 31:10) 

These words were a testimony for Magnolia Johnson-Lewis, who was also called “Mother Lewis”. The eighth of twenty-two children, Magnolia was born on March 28, 1906 in what was Oklahoma Territory and is now Watonga, Oklahoma.  She married Paul Murphy of Guthrie, Oklahoma.  They had three daughters.  Magnolia was left a single mother.  To feed her daughters, she worked as a butcher, air craft machinist at Douglas Aircraft and in various domestic jobs. 

Magnolia opened and operated the first “help yourself laundry” on the east side of Oklahoma City, in 1946.  She later married Eulyses Lewis, a veteran of World War I. 

In 1951, Mother Lewis moved to Compton, California.  A devoted Christian, Mother Lewis worked as a community counselor for troubled youths in the Los Angeles/Compton area.  She also served on various senior citizens’ committees, believing strongly in God’s faith to see her through each day. 

Answering God’s call, in early 1970, Mother Lewis became an ordained minister and served as the Associate Minister at Curry Temple in Compton, California. 

Rev. Magnolia Johnson-Lewis (Mama Maggie to her grandchildren) was a devoted mother, sister, friend and faithful servant until the Lord called her from labor to reward on June 22, 1985.  One of her daughters, Ruthie Mae Murphy-Forshee is also an Uncrowned Queen.