Freddie Luther Johnson

Freddie Luther Johnson was born in Searcy, Arkansas on August 23, 1943 to Freddie Bee and Doris Vernell (Keathley) Johnson and passed peacefully at his home on March 16, 2026.

He graduated from Quitman High School in 1961 and began at Arkansas State Teachers College (now University of Central Arkansas) studying to be a math teacher. He completed his degree and immediately followed with a Masters in School Administration in 1964 in only three years through the persistent, unyielding strength of his mother, who found a way to pay for school and send him with a good lunch every day.

On August 21, two days before he turned 21, he married Paula Jean Wellman. They had two sons, Freddie Paul and Terry Luther, but lost Freddie Paul to a house fire in 1973. They would proudly adopt two sisters, Tammy and Stacy, in 1983, and then Caleb in 2000.

His love of gospel music would lead him to form The Johnhallsons. They would cut two albums and perform in churches across the south before he formed a group with just his family in 1988. The Johnson Family loved performing together, but the crowd enjoyed his recitations over any song.

He taught at several school districts across the state and served as principal at Vilonia, Mayflower, and Quitman during his 30 year career. He spent several summers working with his dad at Woolly Hollow State Park, earning enough extra money to buy the family farm before turning 40. After he retired, he taught for Arkansas State University at the Jacksonville Air Force Base for 15 years. And after he retired from that, he devoted his time to helping his neighbors and church community, maintaining his farm, and doing his best to remove all the fish from the surrounding lakes …one at a time. When the fish proved more challenging than expected, he came out of retirement and found pleasure in construction and grounds keeping at the local Ren Faire with members of his family.

Freddie is survived by Paula, his wife of 62 years and 7 months. He is also survived by their son Terry and his wife Geneva, son Caleb and his wife Kayci, and daughters Tammy and Stacy. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Garrett Johnson, Miles Kalihiki-Johnson and his wife Kayla, Gavin Johnson, Liam Johnson, Tanis Taft and her husband Kyle, Tori Noblitt, Kassey Young, and Christopher Young. Also surviving are two great-grandchildren, Sophie Kalihiki-Johnson and Adaline Taft; brother-in-law Sam Turner; nephews Sammie Turner and his wife Angie, and their children; Jonathan Turner and his wife Stefanie, and their children; and Wesley Turner and his wife Rebekah, and their children; and his godson Patrick Taft and his wife Susan, and their children.

Freddie was preceded in death by his parents, sister Shelba Jean Turner, and son Freddie Paul. The church was a focal point of his life, and he loved his church family at Quitman First Baptist where he was a Sunday school teacher and source of support for many.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, March 26, at 11:00 a.m. at Quitman First Baptist Church at 5899 Heber Springs Rd W, Quitman, Arkansas. Luncheon afterwards for immediate and extended family. Brother Todd Spradlin will officiate. Music provided by Chip Distin and Judy & Gus Biggers. Eulogy will be provided by Brother Dennis Smith.

Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com