photo by Marcus Frazier

Natchez High School girls’ basketball coach Sue Johnson has off-the-court talent. The coach recently released a CD “The Cycle Must Stop,” about the problems teenagers face.

Basketball coach releases CD about teens

By Patrick Ochs (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Friday, July 25, 2008

NATCHEZ — It’s not about the fame. It’s not about the money. It’s not even about awards.

For Natchez High women’s basketball coach Sue Johnson, the inspiration behind her June released CD “The Cycle Must Stop!” was her kids.

“The bottom line is helping these kids,” Johnson said. “Some adults, they think they’re going through something. But you sit down and listen to some of these children and you will be shocked at what they’re going through every day.”

Johnson’s CD, which mixes gospel and rap, used her student’s experiences ­— as well as her own — to inspire most of the songs.

The CD itself was 15 years in the making.

Fifteen years ago Girl Scout leader Mary Minor began coming to Johnson’s class. She would talk to the girls about respect and other various virtues of the Girl Scouts.

During one of Minor’s classroom exercises she had the girls rap about the Girl Scout code of ethics. Johnson overheard and decided to try her hand at rapping.

Before long the students were cheering their teacher on.

“It was a gift I never knew I had because I’d never put it to use,” Johnson said.

In fact, Johnson had not sung publicly since she was in her ninth-grade choir.

After that, Johnson would find herself awake at 3 a.m., scribbling down lyrics.

Although the writing and collecting of songs took 15 years, it only took a few months to record them to a CD.

Johnson teamed up with Mark “Preacher Man” Davenport — whom she was introduced to through friends at church — to produce the CD and make what was once a passing dream into a reality.

Johnson and Davenport recorded the CD in his recording studio in Natchez.

“She’s very dedicated to what she does,” Davenport said. “It was fun working with her.

“A lot of people come in and just horse around. I like the work she does because it’s reaching out to the children.”

Johnson’s mother was also an inspiration for the CD coming to fruition.

“When she died in ’06, it was like I was on a mission,” Johnson said.

The song “Precious Lord Take My Hand” is included on the CD for her mother.

Johnson’s teacher side shows in her album.

“I feel like my mission is to show love and affection to these kids that aren’t getting it,” Johnson said.

Sometimes students love her, and sometimes they don’t, she said. But after a few years pass, Johnson said those students who weren’t fond of her understand why she was so hard on them.

“I’m going to tell it like it is,” Johnson said. “There isn’t any sugar coating it. If you make one mistake (that can) be it.”

You can pickup your copy of “The Cycle Must Stop!” from Ruby Williams in the Natchez High front office or by calling Johnson at 601-445-8079.

The album is $10.