Robert Daniel “Bob” Johns, age 82, passed away surrounded by his loving family at his home in Louisville, Mississippi, on Tuesday evening, August 18, 2020. Funeral services will be held at Poplar Flat Baptist Church on Thursday August 20 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Doug Wise officiating. Graveside services and interment will be at Memorial Cemetery with Bro. Jonathan Peeples officiating. The family encourages everyone to follow COVID-19 precautions.
Bob was born March 7, 1938, to Dossie and Vera Mae Johns in Winston County, Mississippi. He was raised to fear The Lord, love his family, help his neighbors, and serve his country. He grew up working with his sister Dell and brothers Joe and Dobbin. They learned early in life that there was nothing coming their way that they did not earn and that nothing could happen that they and God could not fix. He attended school as a boy at Rocky Hill School and graduated from Louisville High School in 1956. Bob married his love Frankie Parker in 1959. They built their home in 1965 and raised three daughters: Melinda, Tammie, and Deborah. Bob worked at T. Z. Brown Machining before being hired as employee number 1 at Georgia Pacific Corporation Particle Board Division in 1966 as a millwright. He was a welder and could fix or build anything. He was a tenured member of the Mississippi Army National Guard where he served as a cook. Many men remember his ability to cook delicious full-course meals. He was activated during US Operation Desert Storm and retired from his service in the Armed Forces following the conflict ending. A proud veteran, he loved his fellow veteran members and as a lifelong Baptist he dearly loved his church members and especially his men’s fellowship groups. Bob loved to host a cooking and fry fish, deer steak, or a mess of chitterlings as long as there were a lot of people and plenty of food. He will be sorely missed by his many dear friends and family whom he loved and who loved him as well.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 60 years Frankie Johns of Louisville. Left to mourn his passing along with Frankie is their three daughters: Melinda Richardson and husband Johnny, Tammie Cherry and husband Billy, and Deborah Halfacre and husband Paul. Among his greatest joys was being “Daddy Bob” to his eight grandchildren: Kendra Johns, Robert Johns, Jon (Meredith) Cherry, Addison (Justin) Jones, Kari, Ethan, Daniel, and Hagan Halfacre. He also has six great-grandchildren: C. J., Marlei, Sawyer, Micah, Avey Clayton, and Kyleighe Ray. He is also survived by two brothers Joe D. (Gloria) Johns and Doyce “Dobbin” (Carolyn) Johns, and his sister Dell Gillett, his nieces Brenda Donald, Cassandra Fulton, Kelli Agent, Kimberly Hammond, and nephew Joe Lamar “Joey” Johns. Bob was preceded in death by his parents.
Serving as pallbearers are Jon Cherry, C. J. Hagan, Daniel Halfacre, Ethan Halfacre, Hagan Halfacre, Joe Lamar “Joey” Johns, and Robert Johns. Memorial contributions in honor of Bob may be given to Poplar Flat Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 684, Louisville, MS 39339.
Mr. Bob Johns was very faithful until his Lord called him on, to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to his church which he almost never missed a service, to his wife of 60 years, his family, his country, and he never missed a day’s work, or a chance to help a neighbor in need. He leaves a life well-lived and well-served and offers us a tremendous challenge to live, love, and work as he did.
Services are under the direction of Nowell-Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.
