James Ivey Johnson

James Ivey Johnson, known as Jimmy, passed away on January 16, 2025, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS. He was born on July 20, 1950, in Oxford, MS.

Jimmy attended elementary, junior high, and high school in Clarksdale, MS from 1955 to 1968. He accepted Christ as his Savior at Lake Forest Camp in 1965 and was baptized at Oakhurst Baptist Church in Clarksdale. He went on to study at the University of Mississippi from 1968 to 1972, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He also earned a Master’s in Business Administration in Vista, California. During his college years, he was a part of the Air Force ROTC program and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, upon graduation.

He entered active duty in the Air Force on September 9, 1973, and served until 1979, with stations including Minot AFB in North Dakota, Little Rock AFB in Arkansas, and Osan AB in Korea. After his military service, Jimmy worked in various electrical engineering positions for companies such as Texas Instruments, Burroughs Corporation, Motorola, and Intel until 2020.

Jimmy was a member of several churches during his life, including Oakhurst Baptist Church, churches in Little Rock, AR, Houston, TX, and Lompac, CA, and he was currently a member of Park Place Baptist Church in Pearl, MS. Jimmy enjoyed going to a local coffee shop early in the mornings to sit in his favorite reading spot. He was a greeter and called the regulars by name. He enjoyed having quick-wit banter with each of them before resuming back to his novels. 

Jimmy was a smart, witty and caring Christian man. He had a passion for learning and was an avid book lover. Jimmy enjoyed traveling for work and pleasure and cheering on Ole Miss on Saturdays. He was known for his strong will, determination and kindness. 

He is preceded in death by his father, Ivey Lomax Johnson; his mother, Ila Mae Wells; and his sister, Ginger Havens.

Visitation will be held on January 22, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 1:45 PM at Ott & Lee Funeral Homes in Brandon, MS. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 PM, with burial at Crestview Memorial Gardens at 3:00 PM.

You may livestream Jimmy's funeral service at the following link if you are not able to attend his services starting at 2pm on Tuesday: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=13b4a5b2-7fe9-4e92-b372-fe9ac9222f42