Mr. John Wendell Johnston, Sr

John Wendell Johnston, Jackson resident, author, and former businessman, died at home on Saturday, June 25, 2016, at 84 years of age. Mr. Johnston was born on April 17, 1932 in Mobile, Alabama, and graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile in 1949. He enrolled at University of Southern Mississippi (formerly Mississippi Southern Teacher’s College) after high school graduation, where he was a member of the Junior Varsity basketball team from 1950-1951, and matriculated until he began his military service. From 1952 through 1955, during the Korean Conflict, Mr. Johnston served in the United States Army. He graduated from The Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia as a member of the 10th Officer Candidate Company and was appointed Reserve Commissioned Officer, grade of Second Lieutenant, in 1953. He served as Infantry Platoon Leader, Tactics Instructor in Leadership School, Platoon Leader, Chief Radio-TV-News on the Army Commander’s Staff, and Executive Office MP Company of the Active Reserve. When his military service was completed, Mr. Johnston returned to USM, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree, with a major in Radio/TV Broadcasting, and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He also instructed the Dixie Darlings in “Contagion Drill” for their first national TV performance. He worked as an announcer for WFOR Radio in Hattiesburg, and he signed on WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg/Laurel for their initial broadcast. Mr. Johnston began his professional career in sales with IBM from 1957 through 1960, then established and managed Magnolia Supply Company in Laurel, Mississippi from 1960 through 1967. He then joined what he referred to as “the food business”, working in sales for General Foods Corporation, The Pillsbury Company, and Pioneer Flour Mills until 1980. In 1981, he became an institutional food broker, and worked for companies including Middle Southern Food Marketing, Mississippi River Marketing, Mitchell of Mississippi, Triple R Foods, and Accent Marketing. In later years, when semi-retired, he acted as an independent consultant. His career took his family to New Orleans, Louisiana, where they lived from 1957 through 1960, then to Mobile, Alabama through 1961, then to Laurel, Mississippi from 1962 through 1967, then back to New Orleans from 1967 through 1971, when the family moved to Jackson, Mississippi. In 2013, Mr. Johnston authored and published his first children’s book, “Twister”, which incorporated memories of his childhood summers spent with his grandfather and family in Perry County, Mississippi. Just prior to his death, he completed the manuscripts for his second children’s book, a sequel to “Twister”, as well as a historical fiction novel. Throughout his life, Mr. Johnston was heavily involved in church, community and civic affairs. He loved his Alma Mater, and was past President of three USM Alumni Associations (Mobile, Jones County, and New Orleans). He was a Charter Member of the Big Gold Club, later known as the Eagle Club. He was a member of the initial Athletic Continuity Committee, whose goal was hiring good coaches to take the athletic program to the next level. He also assisted Dr. McCain in setting up the degree program in hotel and restaurant management (now hospitality), by aligning industry requirements with the program. At the time of his passing, Mr. Johnston was an active member of Raymond Road Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, where he served as Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and past Choir Member. He faithfully provided leadership and education in every church where he formerly attended, including Forest Hill Baptist Church in Jackson, Downman Road Baptist Church in New Orleans, Highland Baptist Church in Laurel, and Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile (from Cradle Roll until he left for college). Mr. Johnston was also a Gideon. Some of Mr. Johnston’s other activities and accomplishments include: Coach for Forest Hill Youth Club baseball for many years, Advisory Board of Mississippi University for Women Culinary Arts Institute, Steering Committee of Mississippi School Foodservice Association, Hinds County Republican Executive Committee, Christian Action Commission, Member of Laurel Junior Chamber of Commerce, and Laurel Young Republicans. Mr. Johnston married Norma Faye Brogan on December 8, 1956, at Indian Springs Baptist Church in Perry County, Mississippi. They had four children who all grew up in the Forest Hill community of Jackson, Mississippi. Mrs. Norma Johnston passed away in 1999, and Mr. Johnston married the former Mary White Dalton in 2001. Mr. Johnston was preceded in death by his parents, Oliver Wendell Johnston and Marjorie Howell Johnston of Mobile, Alabama; his former wife Norma Faye Brogan Johnston, originally from Laurel, Mississippi; and a great grandson, Truett Carroll Wilkinson. He leaves behind a large and loving family, who will miss him dearly. Wife, Mary White Johnston; Brother, Cecil Johnston (Helen) of Cookville, TN; 4 children: Kay Black of Madison, MS; Suzanne Belk (Benny) of Union, MS; Dr. John W. “Jay” Johnston, Jr. (Diana) of Meridian, MS; and Stephen Johnston (Melissa) of Jackson, MS; Step-son Jonathan Dalton (Katie) of Brandon, MS; 13 grandchildren: Chris Burns (Emily), Lauren Lewis (Derrick), Tim Black, Matthew Wilkinson (Danyle), Bradley Wilkinson, Dr. Matthew Hunt (Virginia), Meredith Floyd (Ray), Tiffany Thigpen (Clayton), Mary Hunter Johnston, Bennett Johnston, Isabelle Johnston, Charlie Johnston, and Conrad Dalton; 12 great grandchildren: Brogan and Anna Carson Burns; Elizabeth, Layla and Josiah Lewis; Beckett and Alaina Wilkinson; Kennedy Hunt; and Anna, Emma, Audrey and Maggie Floyd; and countless cousins, nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Chancellor Funeral Home in Byram, Mississippi, on Sunday, June 26, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. at Raymond Road Baptist Church in Jackson with a short visitation period prior to the service. Interment and graveside service will be held at Pine Crest Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the USM Foundation, The Norma Brogan Johnston Endowment, Fund #1652, P O Box 10026, Hattiesburg, MS 39046, or to Raymond Road Baptist Church, 4622 Raymond Rd, Jackson, MS 39212. Online guestbook may be signed at www.chancellorfuneralhome.com