Remembering Johnny Ray Johnson, Sr.: A Life of Laughter and Fishing

Last updated: September 2, 2026

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Johnny Johnson, 69, passed away on August 31, 2026, after being sick for the last couple of months.

Remembering Johnny Ray Johnson, Sr.

Johnson was a man who loved the outdoors, but anyone who knew him knew that fishing was where he truly belonged. He spent much of his life around the levee and on the water, and he was the kind of fisherman who could catch a fish in a dry hole without bait.

Johnson also had a way of making people laugh. Whether it was something he said, a story he told, or simply his personality, he could bring a smile to the faces of the people around him and leave them with a story to tell.

Family Memories and Legacy

Johnny Ray Johnson, Sr.’s Impact on Family

His son, Johnny Ray, spent every day by his daddy’s side right up until the day his father passed. Some of their best times were spent fishing together. One caught the fish, and the other posted the pictures. But somewhere along the way, the son managed to pick up a little of his daddy’s fishing talent too. Those days together created memories that Johnny Ray and the family will carry with them forever.

Johnson shared a particularly special bond with his grandson, Brent Collins. The two spent a great deal of time together through the years, and their relationship grew into something much more than that of a grandfather and grandson. They were truly best friends. Johnson played an important role in Brent’s life, helping guide him, teach him, and mold him into the man he is today. The time they shared, and the lessons he passed down will remain a lasting part of Brent’s life.

Johnson is survived by his wife, Myra Johnson; his children, Jim McCool and his wife, Mandy; Johnny Ray Johnson, Jr.; Heather and her husband, Lynn Miller; Patty and her husband, Tommy Guimbellot; and Melissa Moore; his sisters, Angela Johnson and Cynthia Hosea; and numerous grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Julia Raines; his father, J.C. Johnson; and his brothers, Wesley Johnson, Tommy Johnson, and Roy Johnson.

Johnson will be remembered for his love of the outdoors, his gift for catching fish when nobody else could, and his ability to make just about anybody laugh. More than anything, he will be remembered for the time he gave to the people he loved. The laughter, stories, lessons, and memories made on the water, along the levee, and surrounded by family will live on through the many lives he touched.

A memorial service for him will be held Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Richmond Civic Center in Richmond, Louisiana.