Bridgeport's Marra Johnson Talks Family Importance as She is Set Serve as Queen of 47th Italian Festival
By Jeff Toquinto on September 01, 2026
The West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival’s 47th edition will get its beginning this Friday, Sept. 4, and reigning over the event attended by tens of thousands will be this year’s Regina Maria XLVII Marra Johnson of Bridgeport.
In April of this year, at the Annual Spring Gala, it was announced that Johnson would be named this year’s Regina Maria XLVII. The title Regina Maria is in honor of Italy’s first queen.
Johnson, a Bridgeport High School graduate who was a standout in the classroom as well as an athlete, is the daughter of Rick and Dee Johnson. Her parents are also Bridgeport High School graduates and lifelong residents of the city.
As is often the case with those of Italian Heritage, family is key to many things. Johnson is not the exception.
“To me, family means having people who are always there for you, no matter the circumstances. Though I am an only child my family has never felt small by any means,” said Johnson. “I have been blessed to have a large Italian family who has made me feel loved, supported, and never alone. My family has always been there to celebrate my accomplishments, encourage me when things get difficult, and support me through every stage of my life.
“Family means having a strong sense of belonging and knowing that you always have people in your corner. It’s not just about being related by blood, but about the love, memories, traditions, and support that bring people together,” she continued. “Growing up with a large Italian family has taught me that family is something to be grateful for and never take for granted.”
As for her family, there are plenty of recognizable individuals that helped shape who she is today. She is the granddaughter of Karen (Marra) Rieser and the late Michael Rieser, and Rosemary Corder and the late Michael Corder.
Johnson’s great-grandparents were the late Louis “Jiggs” Marra and Helen Marra, and her great-great-grandparents were the late Frank 
and Mary Marra, who immigrated to the United States from San Giovanni in Fiore, Calabria, Italy.
and Mary Marra, who immigrated to the United States from San Giovanni in Fiore, Calabria, Italy.
Johnson was proudly named after her family’s Italian surname.
“I would like to thank my father for teaching me the importance of my Italian heritage from such a young age. He would always tell me how important it was that I learned the family recipes and listened to all the stories told by my grandparents and great grandparents,” said Johnson. “For the longest time I didn’t understand why, but as I have gotten older and family members are no longer with us, it all made sense.
“When we are young, we don’t realize what treasures we have until they’re gone. Recently this set in a little more as I was supposed to learn our family pita piata recipe from my cousin Mary Annese, but sadly with her recent passing this is no longer possible,” she continued. “Also, since we lost my great grandfather Jiggs, or pap pap as I called him, the stories at holidays haven’t quite been the same, and the years of our family reunion have faded. Those losses have made moments like this even more meaningful. To be here representing not only the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival, but also my Italian culture, with several cousins by my side, means so much to me.”
It is certain, family members past and present are proud of the young adult for her accomplishments. And they are plenty.
Johnson recently began the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the West Virginia University School of Medicine. She attended Wheeling University for two years before completing her final two years of undergraduate studies at Fairmont State University, where she graduated with honors in May.
As a student athlete, Johnson was the only dual-sport athlete at Fairmont State University. Over her collegiate career, she earned six All-Mountain East Conference (MEC) honors in swimming and two All-(MEC) honors in golf. She was recognized as a CSCAA Scholar All-American in swimming and earned CSC Academic All-District selections in both swimming and golf.
Johnson was also actively involved in venues beyond the athletic arena. She served on Student Council at Wheeling University and remained an active member of the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee throughout college. She played a key role in planning the Athletic Awards Banquet each year at FSU and helped to raise money for the local Make-A-Wish Foundation through university fundraising efforts. Johnson was also actively involved in her university’s Day of Giving campaigns, helping raise funds for her athletic teams and academic programs.
And there is more. When not studying or competing, Johnson volunteered her time photographing other athletic teams and events. She served as captain of the women’s golf team during her senior year. During college summer breaks, she coached summer league swim teams and assisted with youth golf clinics.
Despite the full schedule, Johnson is also part of the labor force. She currently works part-time at the Bridgeport Conference Center and at Orange Theory in Morgantown.
In her free time, Johnson enjoys shopping, traveling, playing golf with her dad or boyfriend, JD, and spending time with her family and friends.
Editor's Note: Top photo is of Marra Johnson in her queen's gown, while she is shown with father Rick and mother Dee in the second photo. Photos courtesy of Dee Johnson, who also provided the information for this story.
