ZION’S CENTENARIAN COTERIE is a new and exciting STAR OF ZION Spotlight feature. Celebrating our centenarians is an idea whose time has come and is long overdue. It has been created because of conversations I’ve had with other Zionites requesting that the STAR OF ZION acknowledge members of their congregation who are 100-plus years young. Our Super-Seniors are Loyal and Royal. Their devotion to the Zion denomination deserves to be praised, honored, and treasured.
Please submit names, bios, and pictures of our living legends to be included among Zion’s Centenarian Coterie to Debra Chappelle-Polk, Zion Spotlight Editor @ ZionSpotlight@StarOfZion.org
CENTENARIAN (noun) a person who is 100 years old or older.
Coterie (noun) an intimate and often exclusive group of persons with a unifying common interest or purpose.
KATHERINE NICHSON (September 9, 1920) Katherine Nichson (nee Derrciott) was born in New York City at Harlem Hospital on September 9, 1920; she attended school in Harlem and still resides in Harlem. At age 103, Katherine Nichson is Mother A.M.E Zion Church’s oldest living member. “Mother Nichson,” as she is affectionately called, joined Mother Zion in 1923. She was among the first 90 children who were received into the Mother AME Zion Junior Church, which was organized on January 6, 1924, by the then Pastor, Reverend Dr. James W. Brown. Mrs. Nichson is a Missionary, Lay Council member and served as Leader of Class #13 for many years. Prior to the pandemic, she attended Sunday School on a regular basis.
Mother Nichson is a natural born storyteller. For the last few years, she has been living at the Harlem Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation. Members and friends visit with her and look forward to hearing the latest news from her. On any given day, she regales “her audience” with stories about Mother Zion and the Harlem Community past and present. She is also an activist and is a member of Community Board #5. She has been involved with the Fred Samuels Democratic Club and is a longtime member of The National Action Network (NAN).
Katherine Nichson is not shy about voicing her opinion and giving advice – particularly to young people: “I want them to get involved in politics. It is the most serious time in my lifetime where people need to exercise their right to vote, because it is the best way to honor the people who died fighting for this right.” In 2020, members of Mother Zion, along with local politicians and community leaders celebrated her 100th birthday with an outdoor party in front of the church. The Amsterdam News covered the event as well, noting, … “ was born into the women’s rights movement, Katherine Nichson encourages everyone to vote.”
She married Willie Don Nichson on July 4, 1948. She has three sons, one of whom was a police officer. She acknowledges that there are some officers who are not compassionate towards Black lives. Following the George Floyd murder, she stated, “putting a knee on someone’s neck is a terrible tragedy. Our policemen need to be informed that life is precious. They need to look in the mirror and ask themselves: ‘Are you about destroying humanity?’”
Mrs. Nichson’s father fought in World War I as part of the Harlem Hell Fighters, 369th Division. One of her most cherished possessions is the coveted Croix de Guerre medal given to her father by the French government as one of the 171 fighters in recognition of their service.
She is also proud of the fact that while her family moved quite a bit when she was a child, she had perfect attendance at school, “I never missed a day.”
Mrs. Nichson calls Mother Zion her fortress and has served under many pastors, including its present pastor, Rev. Dr. Malcolm J. Byrd, who calls her name on many a Sunday morning. She has benefitted from her positive attitude towards life and counts her blessings every day.
MRS. POSEY JOHNSON (February 17, 1924) "If the Lord sees fit on February 17th, I will be 100 years of age". The Lord “saw fit” and Mrs. Posey Johnson celebrated her 100th birthday on February 17, 2024. Longtime friend J. Fairbanks Leach said: “In a lot of places and for a very long time when one speaks these two words, “Posey Johnson”, the hills of Zion Methodism reverberate with honorable positivity. The Buds of Promise, W.H. & O.M. Society, Christian Education Department, Connectional Lay Council, and the International Ministers’ Spouses & Widows(ers) Fellowship, well, almost every area of Zion Methodism will confirm that they were Posey Johnson’s work areas. In service to God, Miss Posey allowed no ‘grass to grow under her feet’. It is a true fact that Miss Posey is an indisputable wonder.”
Posey Johnson was born in Gilford County, North Carolina. She and her siblings (1 brother and 3 sisters) walked walk miles to Palmer Institute as her father wanted them to have a solid good education. She attended Sedalia High and graduated from Winston-Salem Teachers College. She taught grades 4-5-6-7 at Carver High, Mt. Olive, NC.
She joined St. Andrew A.M.E. Zion Church, Wilmington, NC., in 1949 where her late husband, the Rev. Robert Wesley Johnson pastored, and she still attends whenever she has a caring St. Andrew ‘Uberite’. J. Fairbanks said, “Miss Posey’s life and service in Zion was done in indelible ink as there are many young clergy and theologs in our pulpits who will testify to the teaching and love they gained from her in the Buds and every other facet of Zion.” The Rev. Dr. Malcolm J Byrd, Pastor Mother A.M.E. Zion agrees and remembers her fondly.
On February 19, 2024, members of the International Ministers’ Spouses & Widows(Ers) Fellowship (IMSWF) held their Black History Prayer Call-in Service. Mrs. Leach said, “We have in our midst an IMSWF Widow who has blazed an admirable trail in Zion Methodism, quietly and unassuming. I plan to use all widows in the program as we try to weave the Service around Miss Posey and Black History.” During the service, her favorite gospel song(s) and hymns were performed and her favorite scripture, Psalm 27, was read.
Posey Johnson served under Bishops George Battle, Richard Thompson, W.W. Slade, Herman Anderson, William Hilliard, George Leake, and Joseph Johnson. Her Zion affiliations include Women’s Home & Overseas Missionary Society (WHOMS- Buds) Lay Council, Christian Ed and IMSWF. She also worked with the Church Women United, National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Posey Johnson remembers one of the daily quotations posted on the bulletin board by Dr. Charlotte Hawkins, President of Palmer Institute: “Egotism, sensitivity, and pride are enemies that will keep you from becoming educated”.
Posey Johnson said someone recently asked her how it feels to be 100 years old. She told them, “I don’t know, I’ve never been 100 years old.” Posey Johnson is abundantly blessed to still have an abundance of love and keen intellect.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY JORDAN (January 21, 1923)
William M. Jordan was born in Reelsboro, North Carolina on January 21, 1923, and celebrated his 100th birthday with friends and family. William, like many young African American children living in the south in the 1920s, walked 3 miles a day each way to a one-room schoolhouse with his brothers and sisters. At age 16, he enlisted in the United States Navy and did his boot camp training in Little Creek, VA. William served on the USS Cincinnati and Denebola which were cargo ships; the USS Alco & Arcadia, which were transport ships, and the Gillespie, a destroyer ship. During his naval career, he travelled to Brazil, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Cuba, and Barbados. He was discharged in 1954 at the rank of Steward First Class. In recognition of his service, William was awarded the American Defense Services medal, the American Area Campaign medal, and the World War II Victory medal.
In 1957 William moved to New Rochelle, New York where he landed a job as a private chauffeur for a multi-million-dollar man whose last name was Rosenfield. Soon after, William moved to Brooklyn, NY where he met and married Margie Redish. Sadly, Margie passed away on May 10, 2020. They had been married for 60 years. William and Margie raised their sons, Keith and Robert in the home they purchased in Jamaica Queens in 1962. He has been a member of the Beach Light Masonic Lodge #76 for 40 years and served as Worshipful Master for 3 years. He retired from the US Postal Service in 1988.
William McKinley Jordan joined Rush Temple A.M.E Zion Church in Jamacia Queens, New York in 1965 and served as Chairman of the Trustee Board for 4 years. He is the proud Grandpa to Kenneth 28, Maya 22, Emerson 5, and Ellison 3. He still lives in the home he shared with his wife Margie, and still attends services at Rush Temple on a regular basis.
GOD’S CONTINUED BLESSINGS TO ALL OF ZION’S CENTENARIANS!
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