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He had
previously served as sheriff of Craighead County from 1967 until 1988,
having served 11 terms, longer than any other sheriff in the county's
history. As sheriff he helped establish the Arkansas Sheriffs' Boys and
Girls Ranch, located near Bates-ville, and lead the state in
contributions to the ranch for five consecutive years. He served on the
ranch board of directors for five years and was honored with a life
membership to the board.
He was selected as the "Peace Officer of the Year for Craighead
County" in 1969 by the Exchange Club. He was given a Law
Enforcement Commendation Medal in 1988 by the Crowley's Ridge Chapter of
the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution for
outstanding achievement and dedication to the maintenance of law and
order.
He was a member of the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police, the
Northeast Arkansas Peace Officers Association and the Jonesboro Regional
Chamber of Commerce. He had served on the state Board of Correction and
the Second Judicial District Drug Task Force board of directors and was
former president of the Arkansas Sheriffs' Association.
An avid horseman, he owned Johnson Rodeo Co. and served on the board of
directors of the International Professional Rodeo Association in
Oklahoma City, of which he was a Gold Card member.
He was a member of Highland Drive Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Jane Brooks Johnson of the home; a son,
Mark Floyd Johnson of Jonesboro; a brother, Edwin Johnson of Carth-age,
Miss.; a sister, Helen Starnes of Caraway, and a granddaughter, Brandi
L. Johnson of Little Rock.
He was preceded in death by his parents, E.C. and Maggie Johnson.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Emerson Funeral Home's
Memorial Chapel, with the Rev. Johnny Hutchison officiating. Burial will
follow in Jonesboro Mem-orial Park Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Rusty Grigsby, Norris Wat-kins, David Vance,
Terry Reece, Larry Taylor and Col. Steve Dozier.
Honorary pallbearers will include Mayor Hubert Bro-dell, former and
current employees of the Jonesboro Police Department, former and current
employees of the Craighead County Sheriff's Department, Joe Mack
Campbell, Leonard Browning, Eddie Emison, Danny Emison, Bud Marshall,
H.C. Todd, Lanny Barnhill, Charlotte Wooten, Karen Burris, Amy Pace,
Floyd Stonecipher, Juel Boatman, Jerry Bookout, Larry Emison, Kelly
Baggett, Bobby G. Hogue, Hal Hallmark, Jack McCann, Buren Jackson, Tom
Sanford, Edward M. Cunningham, Jason Lassiter, Scott Roper, Chuck
Easterling, Brent Davis, Phillip Crego, B.J. Smith, Mike Walden, Alan
Copeland, Ben Owens and Jimmy Cooper.
Memorials may be made to the Arkansas Sheriffs' Boys and Girls Ranch,
100 St. Vincent Place, Batesville 72501, or the Highland Drive Baptist
Church Building Fund, 515 East Highland Drive, Jonesboro 72401.
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