Try a 14-day free trial today with Ancestry®
Smith - Johnson
Miss Lori Leann Smith
Weds
Mr. Evan McCarroll Johnson
Lori Leann Smith and Evan McCarroll Johnson were united in holy matrimony on Saturday, March 6, 2004, at two o'clock in the afternoon at First Presbyterian Church in Houston. The Reverend Asa Hunt of First Presbyterian Church of Houston, The Reverend Doctor Victor D. Pentz of Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA, and Reverend Jeffrey Smith of First Presbyterian Church of Pasadena, officiated the double ring ceremony. Lori and Evan were blessed to have all three of the ministers who had had vital roles in their religious upbringing be a part of their marriage. Organist Joby Bell, Mead Turner, cousin of the bride who played guitar and wrote a special song for the couple, and soloists Melissa Givens and Leigh Shipman provided music for the ceremony. Following the ceremony, the bride's parents hosted a reception at The Warwick in the LaFontaine Ballroom, where the guests enjoyed the music by Music of the Masses with Jason Lillico. The bride and groom were surprised with a horse drawn carriage ride from the church to the reception and away from the reception. On the eve of wedding, the groom's parents hosted a rehearsal dinner at Brennan's in the Wine Cellar. The bride was honored with a Bridal luncheon at the River Oaks Country Club the day before the wedding given by her maternal grandmother and aunts, Mrs. Lloyd Bentsen, Mrs. Lloyd Bentsen III, and Mrs. Lan Bentsen.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Richard "Rick" Smith of Houston. She is the granddaughter of The Honorable and Mrs. Lloyd Bentsen of Houston, Mrs. Daisy Smith of Georgetown, TX, and the late Mr. James Benjamin Smith.
The groom is the son of Dr. Richard Benjamin Johnson, Jr., of Houston, and the Reverand Nancy Phillips Everhart Johnson of Houston. He is the grandson of Mrs. Berneice Johnson and the late Dr. Richard Benjamin Johnson Sr., of Dallas, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Clyde (Peg) Everhart of Rochester, NY.
Presented to be married by her parents and escorted by her father, the bride selected a wedding gown by Forever Yours. It was of diamond white silk satin and the fitted bodice featured a bateau neckline and dropped waist. The back was accented with narrow straps from the shoulders to the low backline. The full A-line skirt fell to the floor, with soft box pleats in the back to add fullness to the graceful chapel-length train. The single tier veil, made by Priscilla of Boston, fell softly to a cathedral length and was accented with a beautiful tiara created just for the bride by Elen Henderson Designs.
The Matron of Honor was Mrs. Jessica Torres Wallace of Houston, and the Maid of Honor was Meredith Gray Johnson, the groom's sister, of Houston. The bridesmaids were Mrs. Kirstin Ohlson Boyd of Stafford, Miss Jayne Elizabeth Jennings of Houston, Mrs. Nicole Van Vleet Kennedy of Atlanta, GA, and Miss Cynthia Nicole Murphy of Katy. The flower girl was Little Miss Johanna Grace Hixson of Houston. Members of the House Party were Miss Skyler Bentsen, cousin of the bride, of Austin, Miss Jennifer Turner, cousin of the bride, of Fredricksburg, Miss Virginia Kaisa Jonas of Dallas, Mrs. Johanna Prudden Hixson and Miss Erin Elizabeth Nies, both of Houston.
The Bestmen were Ted Lee of Fairfax, VA, and Kadim Tshiek of Newport News, VA, childhood friends of the groom. The groomsmen were Curtis Briggs of Arlington, VA, Matthew Turvery of Fort Walton Beach, FL, Don Dale and Robert Walter, both of Houston. The ushers were Adam Green and Eric Green, cousins of the bride. The ring bearers were Master Kent Michael Hixson, Jr. and Master Reilley Alfonzo Wallace both of Houston. William Richard Smith, Jr., the bride's brother, was given the special honor of escorting their maternal and paternal grandmothers down the aisle as well as their mother.
Lori is a graduate of Second Baptist School in Houston. She attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA, but transferred to Baylor University in Waco, where she will graduate in May with a B.A. degree in Social Work. She will go on to get her Masters Degree in Social Work and work in the Medical Center in Houston.
Evan is a graduate of Bellaire High School in Houston, and College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, with a B.S. degree in Kinesiology. He received his Masters of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from The University of Texas Health Science Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Houston and is pursuing his PhD. He is employed by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center as a Senior Imaging Research Tech.
Lori and Evan will take a delayed honeymoon to Hawaii later this month.
