Funeral services for J.B. Johnson Jr. (RET 1SG), of Caseyville, are 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29, at St. Paul M.B. Church, with burial in the church cemetery. Pastor Kenric Brent will officiate. R.E. Tyler Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

     Visitation is Friday from noon until 7 p.m. at the funeral home, with the family present from 6 until 7.

     J.B. Jr. was born to J.B. Johnson Sr. and Marlee Dixon Johnson in McNair. He joined in holy matrimony with Thelma Freeman Johnson on Feb. 20, 1970, and from that union two children were born.

     He united with the St. Paul M.B. Church, Caseyville, at an early age. He was a graduate of Eva Harris High School in 1966. He joined the U.S. Army where he served 22 years. He retired with rank First Sergeant.

     He was employed by Delphi Packard and retired in February 2007. He then became very active in his church activities where he earned a Certificate of Ordination (Deacon), an honor he served faithfully until he became disabled.

     Preceding him in death were his parents; parents-in-law, Willie Freeman and Mary Kelley Freeman; his wife; one brother, Donald Johnson; and two brothers-in-law, Willie L. Freeman and Jonah Freeman.

     He leaves to cherish his memories two children, daughter, Janice Johnson-Smith (Raymond), of Nashville, Tenn., and son, Gerry Johnson (Pasha), of Killeen, Texas; five grandchildren, Anevay and Tyree Johnson, of Killeen, Texas, Jalil and Nyla Smith, of Nashville, Tenn., and Varon K. Potter Jr., of San Jacinto, Calif.; his fiancée, Tanga Hamilton, of Wesson, and her sons, Cedric and McKinley Hamilton, of Wesson; five sisters, Mary Ann Johnson, of Caseyville, and Jerri, Jacqulyn, Glyn and Letha Johnson, of Brookhaven; two brothers, James and Melvin Johnson, of Caseyville; five sisters-in-law, Mary Lee Mack (Melvin), of Los Angeles; two brothers-in-law, John C. Freeman (Josephine), of Caseyville; uncles, Melvin, Lonnie, Robert Earl (Atoria), Steve Dixon, Jessie Johnson (Pearl), and Ellis Johnson Jr. (Dorothy); great-uncle, Willie Humphries; aunts, Alma Pittman, Joann Freeman, Lucresia Newton (Charles), Edith Beasley and Gertha Dixon; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, additional relatives and friends.