Billy James Johnson, Sr.

Billy James Johnson, Sr. died at his Shreveport home comforted by sons, Billy Johnson, Jr. (Kay) and James Johnson. He was preceded in death by wife, Dorothy Poche Johnson; daughter, Mary Johnson; son, Reverend Johnny Johnson; parents, Willie Lee and Virginia White Johnson; sister, Virginia Lee Bacon and husband, Ben; brother, Pat Johnson; daughter-in-law, Susie Johnson; sister-in-law, Albertine Scott and husband, Dan; and sister-in-law, Wanda Poche.

He is survived by 10 grandchildren, Jeremy Johnson, Jamey Johnson, Katy Rhodes (Chris), Bridget Mims (Keven), Christi Johnson Hockaday (Joseph), Brandi Percy (Charlie), Buck Johnson, Blake Johnson (Samira), Brooklynn Dowden (Hunter), and Bethany Coleman (Cody). He is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren: Isabel Johnson, Abbey Rhodes, Lillian Percy, Linus Rhodes, Ella Mims, Chess Percy, Everleigh Mims, Jackson Dowden, Julia Percy, Graham Dowden, Amelia Johnson, Lorraine Dowden, McKenna Coleman and Oliver Johnson. Other survivors include daughter-in-law, Lavada Johnson; his sister-in-law, Patricia Johnson; brother-in-law, Jack Poche; and numerous Johnson, Bacon, White, Robertson, and Scott nieces, nephews and cousins.

Billy became a glass cutter at Libbey-Owens-Ford following the same trade as his father and grandfather, Van White. He started as a 16-year-old student at Fair Park High School and worked there until they ceased production of plate glass. Later he worked in several local industries and had multiple self-employment pursuits. Retirement allowed him to devote more time to his main passion, witnessing about Jesus Christ. He joined Truck Stop Ministries and almost every day of his last 20 years he could be found at Petro Truck Stop encouraging, counseling, and challenging strangers with the Gospel. He was relentless in his efforts to see souls saved and people serving God. All of Billy’s conversations included quotes from Scripture. His example leaves us with no excuses.

All his life Billy was fascinated by the outdoors and often pointed out God’s design in creation. He spent most of his recreational time hunting and fishing with family. He and James enjoyed a special bond forged through hours spent together in the woods of North Louisiana. Their successes provided many delicious meals of his unmatched “deer steaks”. An expert fisherman, he regularly caught, cleaned and fried heaping platters of bass and “white perch” for us all.

After Dot died, he expanded his cooking skills and for years prepared Sunday lunch for family, often feeding 30 or more. He taught himself to make great pies, cobblers and strawberry shortcakes. There were usually a few dozen freshly baked chocolate chip cookies on his table and he always expected you to eat an ice cream cone (or two) if you dropped by.

You are invited to visit with his family on Friday, May 9, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall St., Shreveport, Louisiana.

Honoring Billy as pallbearers will be his grandsons and great-grandsons.

The family requests that you not send flowers but instead sponsor Bibles to be provided in his honor through Gideons International. Bible gift cards will be available at the visitation.

“Call into Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3