- Date Of Birth: February 23, 1927
- Date Of Death: March 22, 2022
- State: Utah
Mr. Jesse (Jessie) James Johnson, Sr., born on February 23, 1927, was the second born child of Ellis Johnson Sr. and Clara Holloway Johnson (both deceased) in Franklin, Mississippi.
Jesse has always known the meaning of hard work; he got his first job at 13 years old, working at a sawmill.
In July 1945, during the height of World War II, he was drafted into the United States Army Corps and was stationed in Texas until deploying to the Philippines. While overseas, he was able to pick up on phrases in the native language, becoming a novice in Tagalog. After being honorably discharged in January 1947, he returned to Quentin, Mississippi, and continued working.
On February 19, 1951, Jesse married Pearlie Beatrice Lee and moved to Picayune, Mississippi. There, he began his career as a welder and a refrigeration mechanic at Stewart DuraVan and Lossett’s where he retired as a Plant Supervisor, to provide for his new wife and children, Willie Louis (Doughnut) and Barbara Ann.
About two years later, Pearl and Jesse welcomed their second son, Jesse James Johnson, Jr. (JJ), quickly followed by their second and third daughters Janice Marie and Glory (Gloria).
As Jesse continued to support his family, he hand-built 4 additional rooms by himself onto their first home in Picayune. He was extremely smart and almost genius with math. As a strong advocator of education, Jesse promoted this position to his children going to evening classes and receiving his General Education Development Certificate (GED).
While raising their family, Jesse and Pearl began their journey in community activism, encouraging and registering African Americans in their local community to vote, paying homage to his late grandfather and slain civil rights activist, Lamar “Uncle Dittney” Smith. As an activist, Jesse also traveled with fellow activist, Mr. John Simmons to Jackson, Mississippi, to meet with Medger Evers to discuss the political and social state of the Black community in Picayune. Later in life, Jesse and Pearl were awarded the Key to the City of Picayune for their efforts. He was a member of the Prince Hall Freemasonry, NAACP and American Legion Post 244 in Picayune, Mississippi.
Once retiring, Jesse began to evolve his love of the outdoors and nature by growing a beautiful garden where he grew greens, tomatoes, peas, etc. Those who knew Jesse also knew his love of fishing. Every chance he got, he was on the water or near the water with a reel, relaxing and waiting for the fish to bite. When he wasn’t doing either of those things, he could be found near a TV, watching Ms. Vanna White on the Wheel of Fortune, a boxing match, or cheering on his beloved Dallas Cowboys.
After rededicating his life to Christ as an older adult, Jesse became known in his community for being a member of the Board of Trustees at Bethlehem Baptist Church, where he was a faithful member under the leadership of Rev. Louis Thomas.
Those who knew Jesse may remember his deep belly laughs, radiant smile, long-winded stories and tales, and his love for God, family, fishing, food, and football. He was one of a kind and will be deeply missed by his family and friends, who affectionately remember him as “Pops”, “Pots” and “PawPaw”.
Jesse James Johnson Sr. is survived by his dedicated and devoted wife, Pearl Beatrice Johnson. He has six children Alice Pearl Winston, Jackson, MS, Jessie Ann Womack, Brookhaven, MS, Willie Lewis Coleman (Deceased), Barbara Ann Harris (Dan) Mobile, AL, Jesse James Johnson Jr. (Gaynell), Pass Christian, MS, Janice Marie Johnson, Sunset, UT, and Glory Johnson-Stanton (Calvin) Clinton, UT, one Goddaughter, Ann Meyers (Eddie) Picayune, MS, an older brother, JB Johnson (Deceased), his younger siblings, Floyd Johnson (Deceased), Ellis Johnson Jr., Chicago, IL, Alma Ree Pittman, Union Church, MS and Joanne Freeman, Union Church, MS. He has seventeen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. Jesse had many people whom he called, “friends.”
