Johnny Laster

John Taylor Laster, 81, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, at his home in Duck Hill.

Known as Johnny, Daddy, John John, Big'un, the Mailman and the Toyota Man, he was born on April 1, 1944, in Grenada to Melvin Harris Laster and Frances Taylor Laster. His father, who was an Army soldier in Europe on that date, did not meet his son until Johnny was a 17-month-old toddler.

Except for a few years when the young family lived in Minter City in Leflore County, Duck Hill was home. He made a profession of faith at the age of 12 at Eskridge Baptist Church. He later moved his membership to Duck Hill Baptist Church. As a straight-A student, he set the educational bar high for his four younger siblings. None matched his accomplishments, but their mother still loved them, although none got a special banana pudding on their birthday like the first-born did. Johnny graduated in the Binford High School Class of 1962 and attended Holmes Junior College in Goodman.

In 1964, he married Sara Jane Haynes, who was his childhood sweetheart. They settled in Duck Hill, raised two daughters, and were married for almost 55 years before Sara died in 2019.

The Vietnam War separated the family as Johnny served with the 173rd Petroleum Company of Greenwood. The 173rd was stationed in the Phu Bai-Hue area of Vietnam from late 1968 until Aug. 5, 1969. After returning home, the GI Bill helped him earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from then-Delta State College. "Now I can take my diploma and a quarter and get a cup of coffee anywhere," he would say.

He ended up with the U.S. Postal Service, working in Duck Hill and Holcomb, before retiring after 42 years. Folks along his routes became lifelong friends. It was during the early days of his mail delivery that he discovered and came to love small Toyota pickup trucks - no more "Fix Or Repair Daily" or "Found On Road Dead." He bought and sold 35 Toyotas over the years, and they were detailed and displayed in a scrapbook.

Johnny was a dedicated member and Senior Vice Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Warren E. Campbell Post 4488 in Grenada.

Survivors include his daughters, Angie Lancaster and her husband Jeff of Duck Hill, and Dawn Traugott and her husband Allan of Grenada; brother Robert Gary Laster and wife Susan of Duck Hill; sister Nannette Laster of Grenada; sister Melba Rodgers and her husband Thomas of Duck Hill; three grandsons, Brandon Vance of Cleveland; Chase Lancaster and his wife Kelcy of Duck Hill; Cody Lancaster and his wife Myranda of Duck Hill; granddaughter Bailey Traugott of Starkville; great-grandchildren Ella Vance of Cleveland and Ada and Luke Lancaster of Duck Hill; and a special family friend and coffee drinking buddy, Teresa Vance. He is also survived by an extended family of in-laws, nieces and nephews.

Johnny was preceded in death by his brother Larry Laster of Hernando.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada. Interment with military honors will follow at the Duck Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until service time Wednesday at McKibben and Guinn.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada, (662-307-2694).