Walter Johnston Jr.

Mr. Walter Lee "Whitey" Johnston, Jr., 76, passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2009, at Sunnybrook Estates Retirement Center. Funeral services will be held at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home Parkway Chapel at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, June 18, 2009. Visitation will from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, at the funeral home.
Mr. Johnston was born in Yazoo City, MS to Walter Lee Johnston, Sr. and Mildred Louise Slaton on July 23, 1932. He graduated from Yazoo City High School and attended Co-Lin where he met his wife of 54 years Gwen King Johnston. He then received his Bachelors Degree from the University of Mississippi and his Masters Degree from Mississippi State.
Mr. Johnston retired from the Mississippi State Employment Service, where he was the Director of Human Resources/Personnel Department. He played the leading role of the villain "Richard Murgatroyd" for over 30 years in Gold in the Hills, the longest running melodrama in the country. He also enjoyed performing with the Mississippi Opera Guild. He and his wife were very active with the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for over 35 years. They enjoyed the lifelong friendships, loved the parties and social events and participating in the charity work.
Mr. Johnston had many other hobbies and passions which included camping, traveling, wood working, and sewing. He especially enjoyed the Madison Chamber of Commerce trips to the casinos, gardens and tours of homes. Whitey loved to meet new people and never met a stranger. His storytelling earned him the title among friends as the "Southern Entertainer".
He is survived by his two sons, David Johnston and his wife, Valerie of Madison and Derrick Johnston of Brookhaven; two daughters, Rhonda Oniu and her husband, Greg of Southlake, Texas and Leigh Johnston; her partner, Mary; and granddaughter, Emi of Indianapolis, Indiana. He is also survived by his best friends of many many years, Butch and Pattie Pitts, as well as many other close friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gwen King Johnston; his parents, Walter Lee Johnston, Sr. and Mildred Louise Slaton; and his brother, Bruce Johnston.