Frederica Wilson Helps Break Ground on Veterans Housing Honoring Sgt. La David T. Johnson

For U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, the groundbreaking for a veterans housing development bearing Sgt. La David T. Johnson’s name carried a personal promise: His service and his family’s sacrifice would not be forgotten.

Wilson joined the Nov. 9 groundbreaking at 8111 NW 17th Ave. for the Sgt. La David T. Johnson Veterans Villas, an affordable housing project supported by a $3 million federal earmark she secured. The development aims to provide homes for veterans while preserving Johnson’s legacy.

Speaking with Senior Reporter Justin B. Smith, Wilson described a connection to Johnson that extended beyond her work in Congress. He participated in the 5,000 Role Models of Excellence, and the uncle who raised him had been her student.

“His uncle who was raising him was a student of mine at my elementary school,” Wilson said. “So he was not a stranger to me.”

Johnson was killed in Niger in 2017 alongside three other American soldiers. Wilson said his death struck close to home and strengthened her determination to ensure that people remembered him.

“But I made sure that everyone knew La David’s name,” she said.

During the interview, Wilson also recalled what she described as President Donald Trump’s treatment of Johnson’s widow during a condolence call as the family went to bring his body to the funeral home. She connected that experience to her commitment to showing military families that their loved ones’ sacrifices matter.

“We want families to know that we will remember them forever,” Wilson said.

For Wilson, the development represents one way to make that commitment tangible. She said honoring military service requires continued advocacy and practical support, including access to housing, health care and good jobs.

“So when we say thank you for your service, what does that really mean?” Wilson said. “So it means that we’re going to help make sure that you have dignity and a nice home.”

She said she wants children in the community who choose to join the armed forces to know that their service will not be forgotten.

James Brown, president of J.L. Brown Development, said helping build homes that carry Johnson’s name is an opportunity to preserve that memory while expanding access to homeownership.

“It is such an honor to be able to design and to build these homes for veterans,” Brown told Hy-Lo News.

Brown said the homes will have four bedrooms, three bathrooms and more than 1,900 square feet. He described a homebuying program intended to reduce upfront costs for eligible buyers.

“These buyers will come into the program with hardly no money down, in some situations no money down, and to be able to get an affordable home,” Brown said.

Purchase prices, eligibility requirements and application instructions were not provided in the interviews.

For Johnson’s grandmother, Barbara Moss Jones, helping others is also part of keeping his legacy alive. She said she honors him through a scholarship supporting young people and wants his sacrifice to remain part of the community’s memory.

“I just want to make sure that they don’t forget he gave his life for this country,” Jones told Hy-Lo News.

Asked about the development honoring her grandson, Jones emphasized the importance of its service to the community.

Her hopes echoed the commitment Wilson expressed at the groundbreaking: that remembering those who served must continue through support for the people and families they leave behind.

---

Sign up for our weekly email newsletter and subscribe to our YouTube page to get alerts for our news shows.

Do you have news to share? If so, send Hy-Lo News your story ideas by clicking here.