Jerry A. Johnson

To his students, he was known as ""Mr. J"" or ""Coach."" To his family, he is known as ""Papaw."" But, to everyone who met him, he was a man of integrity and quiet strength. Whether nurturing the garden he loved so much or imparting some little gem of wisdom, his compassion was always evident and his insights always honest. ""Think. Then do what is right."" You may not have always agreed with him, but you could always count on him. His love for God and his family formed the basis of every decision he made. But, in the end... ""I faced it all and I stood tall, and did it my way.""
Jerry Alton Johnson (1940 - 2014) grew up in Tylertown, MS, attended Southwest Community College, Trinity University in San Antonio, and received a BS and MS from Delta State University. Jerry was an athlete in college and coached in Fort Walton Beach, FL, Ruston, LA and Stone County, MS. He completed his career as Principal at North Woolmarket Elementary and Middle School in Harrison County, MS. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Ocean Springs, MS.
He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 49 years, Sandra Thomas Johnson; his daughters Jennifer Bell (Robert) and Ginger Johnson; his grandson Zachary Bell, all of Ocean Springs, MS. He is also survived by his sister, Kathleen James (Leroy), his nephew Lee James of Covington, LA, and his sister-in-law Sara Thomas Simpson (Mike) of Yazoo City, MS.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memory contributions be given to St. Paul United Methodist Church of Ocean Springs, MS or St. Jude Hospital.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 274 Beauvoir Road in Biloxi, where family and friends may visit thirty minutes prior to the service.