Paul D. Johnson, 56, of Brookhaven, passedaway Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at St. Dominic-Jackson MemorialHospital in Jackson following a courageous battle with braincancer. Services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, atRiverwood Family Funeral Service, followed by a 1:30 p.m. gravesideservice at Mt. Olive City Cemetery in Mount Olive. Visitation is atthe funeral home from 5 until 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

    Born July 26, 1955, Dr. Johnson was the youngest son of Mrs. LoisSartin Johnson, of Mount Olive, and the late Mr. R.D. Johnson. Hewas a member of First Baptist Church in Brookhaven.

    Dr. Johnson was a graduate of Mount Olive High School, Jones CountyJunior College and Belhaven College. He earned a Ph.D. inEducational Leadership from The University of Mississippi.

    Dr. Johnson was a successful educator, coach and businessman. Atthe time of his illness, Dr. Johnson was director of Hurst ReviewServices and along with his wife of 33 years, the former MaryMiller, was owner of Imaginations Bridal in Brookhaven.

    An avid golfer and loyal, generous friend, he enjoyed spending timeand traveling with his lifelong basketball and golfing buddies andhis family. He will be remembered for his instant smile and theaffirming words he readily offered to those who neededencouragement.

    In addition to his wife, Dr. Johnson is survived by theirdaughters, Maggie and her husband, Michael Smith, of Madison, andAnna Barnes Johnson, of Brookhaven; a granddaughter, EvelynElizabeth Smith, of Madison; mother, Mrs. Lois Johnson, of MountOlive; a sister, Alice, and her husband, John Herrington, ofMadison; four brothers and their wives, Bill and Pam Johnson, ofthe Reservoir area in Brandon, Jimmy and Karen Johnson, ofMonticello, and Robert and Patty Johnson and Richard and RickieJohnson, all of Mount Olive; and many beloved nieces andnephews.

    Pallbearers will be Bill Johnson, Robert Johnson, Richard Johnson,Jimmy Johnson, Martin Holmes, Fred Malone, Robert McInnis andJohnny Williams.

    Memorials in Dr. Johnson’s memory may be sent to St. JudeChildren’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

    To express your thoughts to the family, you may visitriverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave a comment.