Posted on 07/20/2007 1:59:06 PM PDT by granite
FREDERICKSBURG, Texas — Lady Bird Johnson donated $300,000 only weeks before her death to a church where she had worshipped since the 1950s, parishioners said.
But Johnson, who died last week at age 94, declined a proposed flower garden to be named in her honor at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg.
The Rev. Richard Elwood confirmed a gift but declined further comment.
Church member Kathy Schroeder said she wrote a fundraising letter in February to Johnson's daughter, Luci Baines Johnson, asking the family to consider a donation and proposing an honorary garden.
On June 25, she received a letter containing a $300,000 check.
"I was speechless. Needless to say, the parish is absolutely thrilled and deeply grateful," Schroeder said.
In the letter, Johnson said that she had found solace and inspiration at St. Barnabas and thanked the church for bringing communion to her home since her disabling stroke.
"In that spirit of gratitude, I feel the time has come for me to repay a part of the debt for the irreplaceable gifts of comfort, strength and abiding faith I have received," wrote Johnson, the widow of former President Lyndon B. Johnson.
With the money, St. Barnabas paid off the remaining $250,000 of the debt on its $1 million parish hall, built in 1999. Parishioners plan a mortgage-burning party at the church Aug. 19.
She was class, never got her and LBJ getting together.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.