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Johnson, Wilburt, 1921

 Person

Bio

Wilburt Johnson was born on June 26, 1921 in the small Atkinson County community of Kirkland, Georgia. By 1932, at the young age of 11, Johnson had literally followed his father into the woods and demanded to begin chipping boxes alongside his old man. He caught on quickly, and he labored only in the forest industries for the remainder of his working life. In turpentine, he worked under a man for a number of years in Middleton, Georgia before working for Era and Gillis Carter in Willacoochee. Outside of turpentine, Johnson long-logged and worked in the pulpwood industry for several years.

He only quit the turpentine business when it became necessary for him to do so. The industry crossed the ocean and he crossed into old age. He spends most of his days now with his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren. Warm weather finds him most days in a rocking chair in his carport in Willacoochee, and he is remembered by all in the area for his memorable holler in the woods - “Can I Go,” he would yell.

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

ADS-1002-10: Wilburt Johnson, February 21, 2004

 File — Box 1: Series Series 1, Folder: 10
Collection number: Folder 10
Scope and Contents

Group or Organization Name:

County of Residence:Atkinson

Occupation:Retired

Notes:Located in the carport of Mr. Johnson's home in Willacoochee, GA.

Mr. Johnson speaks audibly and clearly throughout this interview.

Interview part of Faces of Piney Woods grant project. Referred by Gillis Carter.

Keywords:

Genres (Controlled Vocabulary):Turpentine, personal experience narrative, occupational folklife, naval stores

Dates: February 21, 2004

CAS-1002.11 Wilburt Johnson, February 21, 2004

 File — Box 1: Series Series 1, Folder: 36
Collection number: Folder 36
Scope and Contents Equipment Used:Timothy C. PrizerInformant Name:Timothy C. PrizerFieldworker:The carport of Mr. Wilburt Johnson's home at 200 Project Ave. in Willacoochee, GA.Engineer:Original tape number 04.2Location:Original tape number 04.2Content Summary:Mr. Johnson speaks audibly throughout the recording, his deep speaking voice loud enough for the tape recorder. The occasional car passes by his house, sometimes with music playing, but for the most part...
Dates: February 21, 2004

Interview with Wilburt Johnson, February 21, 2004

 File — Bag \folklife\prj1014\: Series PRJ1014, Folder: 062_johnson-wilburt
Collection number: PRJ1014-062
Scope and Contents Oral history interview with Wilburt Johnson, February 21, 2004. Willacoochee (Ga.). Fieldworker: Tim Prizer. Audio file digitized from cassette tape. Part of the South Georgia Folklife Project at Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections. Topics include Turpentining and the Turpentine industry and trade.Mr. Wilburt Johnson speaks of his life working in the turpentine woods of south Georgia. Mr. Johnson worked for a number of people throughout his career in...
Dates: February 21, 2004

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Subject
African Americans 1
Audiocassettes 1
Oral history 1
Sound recordings 1
Turpentine 1