Claude Johnson was born in the Mars Hill area of Acworth, Georgia, and attended the local Roswenwald school. He left school at the age of 14 to work in food service at the Lockheed-Georgia Company in Marietta, retiring as a cook after 25 years. He joined Hewlett-Packard afterwards and retired as the head of shipping and receiving after 30 years. Willie Mae Johnson was born in Marietta, Georgia, but moved to Acworth to live with her grandparents, Lizzie and William Cicero (Bud) Furr, at the age of 8 after the death of her parents. She attended the Rosenwald school in Acworth and Lemon Street High School in Marietta. Mrs. Johnson served as Vice President of the Parent-Teacher Association at the Roberts school. Her aunt and uncle owned Lucy Mae and Price Oliver's Cafe in Acworth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson attend the Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church.