Wylie Pierson Johnson (Uncle Wylie) treasures his affiliation over many years with two Shrine Temples in Alabama. Shriners International is “a fraternity based on fun, fellowship and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth.” The organization is well known for its 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children throughout North America that help children with orthopedic problems and burn injuries. Of his years in the Shrine, Uncle Wylie writes,

I was a Noble in the Zamora Shrine Temple in Birmingham 1956-1980. I was Director of the Zamora Greeters Unit 1957 and 1958 and in the Zamora Circus Unit 1960 to 1976 when I moved to Montgomery. I transferred my membership to Alcazar [Shrine in Montgomery] about 1980, but did not transfer it back to Zamora when I came back to Birmingham.

Uncle Wylie remains a member of the Alkazar Shrine, and on 20 February 2010, he and daughter Melanie Fay Johnson travelled to Montgomery from their home in Birmingham for a session with the Shrine photographer. (Alkazar is currently preparing its Shrine directory.) Several photos were made, some including Melanie Fay, and he shared them with us. “I still have my Zamora Circus fez, so I had a picture taken wearing it,” he said. That’s the photo above right. You can see more pictures from that photo shoot here.

Thank you for sharing these pictures, Uncle Wylie, and for sharing your history with the Shrine, a “noble” philanthropic organization. Family members can share comments with Uncle Wylie at wylie80(at)yahoo(dot)com.