Jimmy Ray Johnson, Sr.

Remembering Jimmy Ray Johnson, Sr.    

  On Friday, May 19, 1950, O. B. and Hazel Casey Johnson announced the birth of their baby boy, Jimmy Ray Johnson. He was the only son and grew up with his two sisters, Audrey Beatrice and Kay Lee. Jimmy was a precocious and playful child, attending Hilliard Schools throughout childhood. In high school he transferred to Bay City High School where he was on the football team. After graduation from Bay City High School, he enrolled at Prairie View A&M College where he studied auto mechanics and auto paint and body repair. While in college, he met, and married Linda Faye Thompson and they had two sons.   

     His passions for working on automobiles lead him into a career as a truck driver, auto mechanic, and auto paint & body repairman for Rugeley Motors. Jimmy could also be found working on cars under carports and shade trees all over town.  

     Jimmy loved watching sports, movies, and listening to music. He was especially proud of having been a caregiver to his mother and to oversee her home after her passing.  In his later years, he was known to his neighbors as the community helper, a jack of all trades who enjoyed doing daily tasks from putting out the trash, to cutting trees, to mowing yards, and anything else that was needed, rain or shine.

     Throughout his life he had special relationships with his first cousins, Sammy Lee Johnson and Richard Jackson; his great nephew, Jordan Brown; and most recently with his neighbors and his close friend and caregiver, Regina Fields.

     On Thursday, November 21, 2024, Jimmy Ray Jonhson transitioned from this life. He will be remembered for his jovial personality, kind heart, as well as his love for his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews--blood related or not.  This love was obvious as he never missed calling his loved ones on their birthdays and daily phone calls to his sister and brother-in-law to discuss what was going on in his life.

     It goes without saying that Jimmy will be missed. Those who will often reflect on these and many other precious memories include his sister, Kay Lee (Johnny) Hawkins; sons, Samuel Devoll Johnson and Jimmy Ray (Montreail) Johnson, Jr., and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, O.B. Johnson and Hazel Casey Johnson; sister, Audrey Beatrice Johnson Jordan; great-grandson, Khalil Johnson; great-nephew, Kylan Nuncio; and special cousins Sammy Lee Johnson, and Richard Jackson.

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