Gaither Clarke Johnson, 87, of Tupelo passed away on June 6, 2018, at Sanctuary Hospice. Visitation was from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, June 8 at Burton Funeral Home. Celebration of Life Services followed at 3 p.m. Interment was in Indianola City Cemetery.
Clarke was born on Dec. 12, 1930 to Dossie Eugene Johnson and Rowena Clarke Johnson of Indianola. Clarke grew up in Greenville. He attended Mississippi State University for 2½ years. While there he enlisted in the Army. Upon his honorable discharge, he attended the University of Mississippi and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. On July 9, 1955 he married Patricia Louise Stout of Jackson. He worked at the Greenville Air Base for several years and then Gibson’s Pharmacy. He moved to Indianola and worked for Caldwell Drug Co., later buying the business and renaming it to Johnson’s Pharmacy. He “retired” and went to work at the Parchman Pharmacy for several years before doing relief work around the Delta.
He was a member of the Galen Order of the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy; he received the AH Robbins award for Outstanding Community Service in Pharmacy in 1989; he was President of Pharmacy Alumni Association Chapter 1994-1996; he received the McKesson Leadership Award as President of the MS Pharmacist Association; and was awarded the Bowl of Hygeia Award for Excellence in Pharmacy.
He was very active in his community. He was a member of the American Legion; he was a member of the Kiwanis Club for years serving as State President in 1968-1969; and he served as an Alderman for the City of Indianola for 12 years.
He enjoyed woodworking, spending many hours in his garage repairing chairs, and building cabinets and entertainment centers for family and friends.
He was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church before joining the Methodist Church of Indianola.
He moved with his wife to Tupelo in 2012 to be closer to their daughter.
He is preceded in death by his parents Dossie and Rowena Johnson and his brother, Dorsey Eugene Johnson.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years Patricia Stout Johnson; three children; Keith (Jane) Johnson of Burnsville, N.C., Karen Morris of Tupelo and Craig (Martha) Johnson of Cleveland; seven grandchildren, Seth (Ashley) Johnson, Bess (Julian) McMillan, Stuart (Annalee) Johnson, Amanda (Sloan) Andrews, Stacy (Jason) Collins, Ricky (Nichole) Denton, and Melissa (David) Norquist; and 13 great-grandchildren; Emma Johnson, Piper McMillan, Jude McMillan, Alden Andrews, Jax Andrews, Christopher Collins, Lydia Collins, Ethan Collins, Ian Denton, Zach Denton, Taylor Denton, Claire White and Catie White.
Pallbearers were Seth Johnson, Stuart Johnson, Sloane Andrews, Jason Collins, Julian McMillan, and Bob Leach. Honorary Pallbearers were Ricky Denton, Jack Allen, Gary Austin, Stan Berry, and Jones Ely.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that a memorial be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, 5159 West Main St., Tupelo, MS 38803; French Camp Academy, ONE Fine Place, French Camp, MS 39745; or Palmer Home, P.O. Box 746, Columbus, MS 39703.
