Johnie lives at Mable Howard Apartments, which, at the time was managed by Oakland Community Housing Inc., a non-profit property management company.

Johnie regularly attends a quilting group and has taken computer classes in the Mabel Howard Apartments Community Room, maintains her plot in the tenant garden, and conveniently utilizes the services offered at the Over 60 Health Clinic located on the first floor of the building. Johnie has a devout love for her god, her church, and her sizable family--so large that she has lost track of how many grandchildren she has (she thinks she has between 16 and 20). She even has one great-grandchild! One of her 6 children, Judy, visits her every day. Enjoying each other's company, Judy looks after household tasks while Johnie tends to her quilting.