Joseph Rhodes Johnston: 1953-2025

Joseph Rhodes Johnston, beloved father, grandfather, brother, and husband, passed away on January 28, 2025 at the age of 71. 

Joe was born on October 14, 1953, to Dr. Walter and Mrs. Sophie Johnston. A lifelong resident of Vicksburg, MS, he and his three brothers, Wejie, Syd, and Dickie, had a lively, exciting, and mischievous childhood growing up on Cherry Street. 

He began his career as a boiler maker and went on to become an instructor at Hinds Community College where he served as a mentor of the Skills USA VICA program and eventually retired after 28 years. 

Joe was a devoted father, an avid outdoorsman, and a brilliant craftsman. He deeply valued spending time with his family and five grandchildren. In his spare time, he loved fishing, hunting and shooting guns. With his creative passion for building, crafting, and renewing, he would spend hours in his shop living by his playful motto “If I can’t fix it, it can’t be fixed”.

He also considered another part of his family to be his “G-Suite Team” of college roommates and best friends along with many of his beloved coworkers from Hinds. 

Joe is survived by his wife, Cathy, his two children, AJ (Tracy) and Abby Smith (Nickle), his five grandchildren, Bryce and Cade Johnston, and Hutton, Collins, and Blake Smith, and his brothers, Dr. Walter Johnston and Henry Johnston. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Walter Johnston Sr. and Mrs. Sophie Johnston, his two newborn sons, Chris and Joey, his brother, Syd Johnston, and his nephew, Michael Johnston.

His Honorary Pallbearers include Steve Sullivan, Mike Sullivan, Davey Simmons, Bobby Barlow, Frank Ferguson, and Chuck Schneider. 

Services will be held on Saturday, February 1st at Crawford Street United Methodist Church. Family and friends are invited to attend visitation beginning at 1:00pm followed by a Celebration of Life service at 3:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the SOS Program at Crawford St. United Methodist Church, Vicksburg, MS 39180.