Darnell Johnson

Everyone's friend, Darnell Johnson, passed away on Monday, Oct. 15. A Homecoming Service will be held at Peoples Missionary Baptist Church, 2908 Bellwood Road on Monday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m.

Darnell Johnson was born May 28, 1950, to Mr. Eloise Johnson and Mrs. Cloteal Staten Johnson in Dallas. His father and mother both preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were sister, Donna Amburse and brothers, Steve Staten, Vernon Staten and Buddy Amburse. Darnell attended Dallas schools and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1969. He attended Peoples Baptist Church in Dallas. Darnell married Frances Moore Johnson on Oct. 30, 2004, in Tyler.

Darnell began his career at Tyler Pipe where he worked for 32 years. He also worked as a bartender at the Tyler Petroleum Club and at Royal Pagoda where he made many lifelong friends. In 1990, he went to work at Regency Cleaners making deliveries throughout Tyler for over 19 years while learning about many things before they became public information. Darnell always had his finger on Tyler's pulse.

Always ready to work and help out, Darnell wore many hats throughout his life: a trusted driver to young and old as well as a bartender at many private parties throughout the city. He drove many people to monthly dinner clubs, to the casinos in Shreveport, and to concerts as well as acting as the driver for Rose Queens and their guests over the years.

Darnell had a magnetic personality and when he met you, you became his friend. He had the instinctive ability to remember names and faces and specifics about a person's life. The next time he saw you, he could recall in detail the last conversation.

Darnell had a collection of favorite lines such as: "Talk to me," "Didn't make the cut," "It ain't funny when it's about money," and "We're going to put that on the shelf." He was a Dallas Cowboys fan through thick and thin.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Frances Moore Johnson; one daughter, Vernicka Johnson (Tyler) and five sons, David Johnson (Angela) (Henderson), Joshua Simpson, Brandon Johnson, Eloys Johnson and Robert Harris (Tomika) (Tyler). Also surviving him are three sisters, Gloria Walker Richardson (Stanley), Maybell Staten Gamble (Michael) (Dallas) and Eunice Webb (Lancaster); two step-sisters, Pam Anderson and Juanita Anderson (Dallas); and one step-brother, Jimmy Wayne (Dallas).

Darnell is also survived by 10 grandchildren, De'Ona Browning, Fredrick Pimpton Jr., Fantasia Pimpton, Abigail Johnson, Camille Johnson, Eli Johnson, Elexa Harris, Kintarius Harris, Donte Davis, Davin Harris and one great-grandchild, Kilan McGuire. Also left to cherish his memory are, goddaughter, Theresa Goodwyn; special cousin, Raymond Williams; special friends, Shulonda Ervin and Vicki Simmons and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Harris, Jason Shields, Derrick Wilborn, Frederick Pimpton Jr., Michael Hubbard, Randy Moore, Liwatha Moore, Calvin Moore, Kevin Eltife and Chris Simons.

Active pallbearers will be Tommy Black, Anthony Moore, Christopher Moore, Lawetha Swindell, Andrew Webb and Jimmy White.

A lover of people and always smiling, Darnell will be missed.

The family welcomes all to Peoples Missionary Baptist Church for a celebration of Darnell's life.