Joselyn Johnson knew she would get a tour of the Ravens' locker room during the team's annual night dedicated to female Purple fans, so she hatched a plan.
Johnson snuck a small jar of her homemade holy water – a mixture of virgin olive oil, a little extra scent, and, of course, blessings – in her purse. She then proceeded to sprinkle it around the Ravens locker room.
Johnson has been going to "A Purple Evening" at M&T Bank Stadium for eight or nine years. Her daughter, Jada Paschall, has joined the past three years.
Johnson never brought the holy water before, but with the Ravens trying to claw their way back from a 1-5 start, she thought she'd do her part.
"This season required a couple doses of holy water – a little extra Jesus," Johnson said.
Johnson sprinkled some holy water around the entire locker room, but put some additional focus on the lockers of the defensive players, considering the team's tough start on that side of the ball.
"They really needed the spirit of the Lord to surround them," she said.
Her daughter took the video for her own enjoyment, but figured she'd post it to social media in hopes that someone from the team would take notice and know fans are praying for them.
Johnson says she's not that religious, but she called the power of prayer and blessings "serious business."
"This is my mom every day," Paschall said. "This is what I've grown up with. She blesses everything and everybody. Even my friends she has never met before. I'll tell her they're going through stuff and we're on a call and she's already praying."
Johnson attends Southern Baptist Church on Chester Road in East Baltimore. Her husband's best friend is the pastor of a church on the Eastern Shore, so she also attends that online and in person at least once a month.
Johnson was born and raised in Media, Pa., a suburb outside of Philadelphia, and was an Eagles fan growing up. She converted to purple and black when she went to Morgan State University and graduated in 1996, when the Ravens were founded. She's been in Baltimore and a superfan ever since.
"My family did disown me for maybe a year or two, but they're fine now. They love me again," she joked.
The Ravens recently hosted A Purple Evening presented by Safeway, giving women of the Ravens Flock a chance to meet players, staff, and cheerleaders.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
The Ravens hosted their annual Purple Evening event Monday.
Johnson's son, Boston, is also a diehard fan and they never miss watching games. When the Ravens were in the midst of a four-game losing streak earlier this season, she forced him to come back from college at Towson University to watch the games with her at home. Prayers are great, but better luck couldn't hurt.
Paschall has never gone to a game, but she's hoping to attend her first. She's a growing fan, and events like "A Purple Evening" help build that bond. In addition to going into the Ravens locker room, they kicked field goals on the M&T Bank Stadium field and met players such as Roquan Smith, Zay Flowers, and others.
"It's an amazing event and I'm so appreciative of it because it offers the opportunity for us ladies to get the whole football Ravens experience," Johnson said. "Usually, people consider football to be a man's sport, but I'm telling you, we know football, we love football, and we love the Ravens."
