William Johnson Sr.

1948 - 2016

William Peyton Johnson, Sr. (Billy)

Natchez

William Peyton Johnson, Sr. (Billy), died Saturday, January 30, 2016, in Vidalia, Louisiana. Billy was born in Holmes County, Mississippi on September 9, 1948 to Thurlow Peyton Johnson and Maureen Merideth Johnson. He worked in the family petroleum business and started several of his own entrepreneurial endeavors in his hometown of Tchula. Billy spent his youth enjoying the pleasures of rural life and was known for is intelligence, wit, and charisma. He was called to the ministry and attended Reformed Theological Seminary in Clinton, MS from 1995 -1996 and was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America. He served as the minister of Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church in Natchez, MS for nearly a decade. In recent years, Billy shared his gift of observation, humor, and analytical thought through his numerous writings inspired by his hometown and his deep faith. Billy was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Harriet Ann Buchanan Johnson. He is survived by his aunt, Pauline Johnson; sister, Jean Johnson Aldridge; his 7 grandchildren; and his 5 children, Peyton Frances Johnson-Collins, William Peyton Johnson, Jr., Maureen (Maura) Merideth Johnson, Susanna Margaret Johnson-Sharp, and Robert Buchanan Johnson. Visitation with family will be held on Wednesday, February 3 at Stratton Chapel in Natchez, Mississippi from 9-10 am, followed by services at First Presbyterian Church in Natchez at 10 a.m. A graveside funeral service will be held at Parkway Cemetery in Kosciusko, Mississippi at 3 pm on the same day.