Susan graduated from Noxapater High School and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science from Mississippi State University in 1970, her Master of Education from the University of Mississippi in 1972, and her Doctorate from the University of Mississippi in 1994. Susan valued education and dedicated her career to helping children in our schools, serving as the Tupelo Public School District’s School Psychologist from 1994 until her retirement in 2007.
Susan married the love of her life, James “Jim” Johnstone in 1993. The two of them shared a beautiful life together. As avid fans of the Ole Miss Rebels, attending Ole Miss Sporting events together was one of Susan’s favorite pastimes. They also traveled all over the U.S. and Europe together, including England and Greece, where Susan was asked to speak at an international seminar. Susan especially loved to sing and play music with Jim. She was a talented artist who loved to paint, as well as a singer, musician, gardener, and writer.
Susan is remembered by her family and friends as someone who always thought of others before herself. She had an active social life and a large circle of friends who she loved sincerely. She participated in many social clubs and organizations, including her bridge club, of which she was a fierce competitor and thoroughly enjoyed for many years. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Ole Miss Alumni Association.
One thing is certain: Susan lived her life to the fullest. She enjoyed throwing a party, hosting her family and friends, and being together with the people she loved. She was intelligent, witty, and quick to laugh, the sound of which will be so dearly missed by all who knew her. She loved animals and treated her pets (and everyone else’s pets) like family, especially her sweet dog, Belle. She was also tough, having battled and survived pancreatic cancer and entered remission with a renewed vigor for life.
Perhaps most notably, though, was Susan’s devotion as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Her six grandchildren were the light of her life. At family gatherings she could often be found on the floor with the kids, playing house, dolls, or pretending to be a race car driver, much to their delight.
She is survived by her husband, James Johnstone, her four children; Michael (Sheila) Johnson, Dave (Tricia) Richardson, Leslie (Bill) Hilliard, and Colin (Summer) Johnstone, her six grandchildren; Lane and Maggie Johnson, Durham and Stella Richardson, and Lily and Kate Hilliard, her five younger brothers; Webb Boswell, Jr., Scott (Connie) Boswell, David (Liz) Boswell, Kenny (LeAnn) Boswell, and Will (Joni) Boswell, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at First United Methodist Church at 68 S Main St. in Pontotoc, Mississippi. Visitation for friends and family will be Friday, January 20th, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday, January 21st from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. A celebration of life officiated by Rev. Brad Hodges and Rev. Kenneth Corley will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 21st, 2023.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Susan’s honor may be made to your church or charity of choice, or to the Herb Kosten Pancreatic Cancer Research Foundation at www.kostenfoundation.com or by mail to 6060 Poplar Ave. Suite 140 Memphis, Tennessee 38119.