JOHNSON, THOMAS J., JR.

Services for Thomas Jefferson “Jeff” Johnson Jr. of Brookhaven are at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 13, at Brookhaven Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Easthaven Cemetery.

Visitation is from 8 o’clock this morning until the time of the service at the funeral home.

Mr. Johnson, 77, died May 11, 2001, at King’s Daughters Medical Center. He was born in Panhandle, Texas, on Oct. 15, 1923, to Thomas Jefferson Johnson and Ola Walker Johnson.

Mr. Johnson was retired from State Bank after 35 years as a vice president.

He was a decorated war veteran, having served first as a replacement in the 1st Provisional Raider Regiment and eventually in the 6th Marine Division. His medals and citations included the Purple Heart for wounds received in the battle of Okinawa, the Presidential Unit Citation for his service in the 6th Marine Division, and the Navy Unit Commendation.

After his discharge from the Marines, Mr. Johnson completed his education at Mississippi College, earning a BA degree in psychology in 1950. He received a Master of Theology degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and served as the pastor at Holly Springs Baptist Church in east Lincoln County before beginning his career in banking.

Mr. Johnson was active in the community through the Civitan Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Boy Scouts and youth baseball.

He was a member of First Baptist Church for 50 years and worked in the Intermediate Department for many of those years. He also served as music director for the Senior Adult Department.

Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife of 45 years, Bertille Franklin Johnson of Brookhaven; his sons, Thomas Geoffrey Johnson of Huntsville, Ala., James Keith Johnson of Huntsville, Ala., and John Kent Johnson of Birmingham, Ala.; seven grandchildren.

The family requests that memorials be made to Hospice Ministries.