from the Feb. 22, 2008, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:
BRINKLEY -- William Andrew Bill Johnson Jr., age 87, died Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at St. Vincent Hospital in Little Rock, Ark. Born June 12th, 1920 in Holly Grove, Ark., Bill was the son of the late Williams Andrew Johnson, Sr., and the late Lottie Franks Johnson. A 1938 graduate of Holly Grove High School, he attended Hendrix College before becoming the first World War II draftee from Monroe County. This occurred prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. A descendent of pioneer planters and prominent merchants, Bill was also a planter and well known Eastern Arkansas merchant and businessman, for many years a purveyor of fine mens clothing and furnishings. The owner and operator of the Esquire Mens Wear in Brinkley for over three decades, Bill was also a partner with his father in W.A. Johnson and Sons, general mercantile dry goods and furnish store in Holly Grove. Additionally, he was proprietor of the Toggery Mens Wear in Marianna, and Roys Esquire in Helena. A born haberdasher, Mr. Bill was always pleased to point out he had sold Tom Bonner, (former weather man for channel 4), the Hart, Schaffner and Marx suit of clothes he wore the day Bonner was hired by Les Bolton at KARK-TV in Little Rock, Ark. Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Patsy, the former Patricia Hamilton Tweed of Atlantic City, New Jersey. The couple of 51 years met when Bill, a platoon sergeant in the United States Army, was assigned to the Dental Unit at England General Hospital which, before the commencement of hostilities, had been the Hadden Hall Hotel on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. His future wife was serving there as a volunteer. Prior to that service he received medical training at Camp Barkley, Abilene, Texas, and dental technician training at Fitzsimmons General Hospital, Denver, Colo., where he graduated first in his class. While stationed in New York City he helped evacuate the wounded coming out of Germany on the Queen Mary and transported many of them to the amputee clinic in Atlantic City. Formerly a Methodist, he was a devout convert to Roman Catholicism, serving as the first elected Parish Council president at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Brinkley. A fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, he was a past Grand Knight of the Msgr. Charles B. McCoy council #6814. A veteran and a member of the American Legion since 1946, Bill loved the Stars and stripes. He thanked God every day of his long life that he was a citizen of the United States, privileged to have been born and raised in the American South. He served faithfully the Claude Sims Post of the American Legion as Finance Officer for more than 30 years. He was a Past Commander and a Past Adjutant of the Brinkley Post # 68. He was also a Past Finance Officer of the Feldman Post #87, Holly Grove, and formerly served on the building committee. A 1974 recipient of The Earl Cherry Award for the most membership recruits; he was a Past Vice Commander and Past Commander of District 8 of the State of Arkansas American Legion. He was a member of the Forty and Eight, The Veterans of Foreign wars, and for both the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War he sat on the Monroe County Draft Board. He was also a proud member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Col. Robert G. Shaver Camp, #1655, Jonesboro, Ark. An avid hunter and fisherman, Bill enjoyed many years of gaming on and around the Maddox Bay area, especially with his hunting guide, and good friend George Sitting Bull, who was a son of the famed Indian Chief. Near Maddox Bay on State Highway 17 South the deceased owned a roadhouse resort and dancing casino which he named DEEP ELM a name now found on all current Arkansas road maps. Delta to his fingertips, he delighted in seeing things grow, especially cotton, which he considered the backbone of the South. In retirement he oversaw his family planting interests as the General Partner of the W.A. Johnson Planting Co., L.L.L.P. His two brothers; (infant) Van Johnson and L. Roy Johnson of Houston, Texas; two sisters; Nell Johnson Hill of Houston, Texas and Margaret Johnson Mack Thompson also of Houston and Little Rock and dear friend, Harold White all preceded Bill in death. Survivors are: one daughter, Suzanne Johnson of Richland, N. J.; two sons; William Andrew Sonny Johnson, III of Southhaven, Miss. and Walter Tweed Johnson of Dallas, Texas, a niece, Julia Hill Dowlin of Stillwater, Okla.; a nephew, James Martin Hill of Houston, Texas and his dear friend, Frances Hall Fitzgerald of Clarendon. The family will gather at the funeral home from 5 until 7 p.m. Friday evening to visit with friends, with Rosary at 6 p.m. A Mass of High Requiem will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 23 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Brinkley with Father Joe Marconi and Father Athanasius Okeiyi presiding. Burial will be in Calvary Catholic Cemetery, by Bob Neal & Sons Funeral Home of Brinkley. You may sign our online guest book at www. bobnealandsons.com.
-- Edited by Jane Dearing Dennis at 09:23, 2008-02-22
-- Edited by Jane Dearing Dennis at 09:32, 2008-02-22
