Rev. Roosevelt Johnson

HAYWOOD CITY, Mo. -- The Rev. Roosevelt Johnson, 81, died Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, at his home.

He was born Nov. 30, 1927, in Helena, Ark., to the late Willie and Sally Benford Johnson.

Johnson had lived in Missouri since the early 1950s. He was a farmer and served as pastor of several churches within the Mississippi County area. He served more than 30 years as pastor of Ollie Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Wyatt, Mo., before retiring.

He and Helen Gene Brown were married Nov. 15, 1955.

Survivors include his wife; four sons and daughters-in-law, James and Vanessa Johnson of Grant City, Mo., Jreece and Cora Johnson of Haywood City, Melvin and Bridgette Johnson of Bell City, Mo., Paul and Nicole Johnson of Morley, Mo.; seven daughters and three sons-in-law, Rose Mary Owens and Pamela and Lester Gillespie of Haywood City, Sylvia and Frank Ellis of Cape Girardeau, the Revs. Bridgette and Melvin Williams of East Prairie, Mo., Debbie Johnson of St. Louis, Katherine Johnson of Norfolk, Va., Andrea Johnson of Honolulu; a sister, Mary Ross of Sikeston, Mo.; 39 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Visitation is from 6 to 7 p.m. today at Williams Funeral Home in Charleston, Mo.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Greers Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Sikeston. The Rev. Bridgette Williams will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston.