The pursuit for greater opportunities was the motive for master framer Willie ErJmon Pelt and Johnnie Mae Isaac Pelt to move to Miami, Florida. Leveraging his craft of picture framing, taught by renowned artist A.E. Backus, Pelt became the sole framer for Associated Artists Company, while Johnnie began a banking career with Capital City Bank in Liberty City, and then, Southeast Bank. Willie Pelt, born in Gordon, Alabama, and the middle child of 12 siblings born to Hardy and Ruby Lee Pelt, met and fell in love with Johnnie Mae Isaac, born in Springfield, South Carolina, and the eldest of 12 children born to Johnny Isaac and Hazel Isaac Codie. The high school sweethearts graduated from historic Lincoln Park Academy, in Fort Pierce, and went on to marry in December, 1960, and headed to South Florida in 1963. Pelt developed a distinguished customer following for 19 years at Associated Artists. He filled the gamut of customer needs, from framing portraits to creating complex specialty and museum quality framing, generating key revenue for the business. In 1981, a revelation inspired Mr. Pelt to leave Associated Artists and launch Pelts Custom Framing, Incorporated, Miami's first black owned picture framing company.

As told to the Miami Times by Mr. Pelt, "One day, the bookkeeper mistakenly gave me the paycheck of one of the White delivery men that worked there (at Associated Artists]. I saw that this man, whose only responsibility was delivery, was making more in salary than me. This was very painful for me. The only thing that I could do to ease this pain and hurt was to start my own company, for I truly loved the art of framing." Pelts Custom Framing ultimately became a staple in Miami, operating from 1981 to 2006. Willie, and later daughter Felicia, provided unique hand-crafted framing. Johnnie was business manager, handling purchasing and inventory, at times, concurrent with her full time role in banking. Operations included the sale of BlackArt and other services. More than entrepreneurs, the Pelts were ambassadors of African American art and culture. Johnnie prepared African American art exhibits for Black History Month celebrations at venues including Miami-Dade County offices and the Miami Herald Media Company. Passionate about education, the Pelts donated art for youth scholarships, were charter trustees of the Dawsey Pelt Scholarship Foundation, and served their church Scholarship Committee at Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church. Further, they groomed interns, were frequent career day speakers and presented real-world insights during seminars at Lindsey Hopkins Technical Education Center. All in all, the business became a one-stop shop for preserving and displaying the precious memories of Miami's Black community. The work of Pelts Custom Framing can be seen in The Black Archives Historical Lyric Theater complex, Miami-Dade County offices, national art galleries, local businesses, and the homes of countless citizens. Today, Willie and Johnnie Pelt reside in North Florida. They enjoy family life with daughter Andrea and son-in-law Stanley Thornton, daughters Felicia and Michelle Pelt, and grandchildren Jamarqus Nightingale and Michaela Jones. Pelts Custom Framing, Inc. Preserving and protecting our most precious memories!