Obituaries

Vernon Wayne Johnson

Photo of Vernon Wayne Johnson
Rev. Vernon Wayne Johnson, of Corning, went to meet his Lord on Jan. 12, 2013, at Peachtree Hospice Care at Spark Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith, after a long illness. Visitation will be on Mon., Jan. 14, 2013, at 12 noon at First United Methodist Church in Corning, with the funeral service to follow at 2 p.m. There will be no graveside service. A meal celebrating Wayne's life will follow the funeral service at the church. Rev. Johnson was born on Apr. 29, 1949, in Knoxville, Tenn. to his late parents Vernon Leon Johnson and Virginia Ruth (Anderson) Johnson. He was an Elder and member of the Arkansas United Methodist Church Annual Conference. Rev. Johnson graduated from Aiken County High School in Aiken, South Carolina and received a MBA in Psychology from the University of South Carolina, a M.R.E. and M. Div. from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Rev. Johnson was a beloved minister for many years throughout the State of Arkansas, and a devoted man of God who loved to serve the Lord. Having retired after 33 years of ministry in 2009, he had had the opportunity to serve in several positions in many churches throughout the south from Virginia to South Carolina to Arkansas. Several of his recent assignments included Cave City United Methodist Church, Bear Creek, Sidney and Bells Chapel United Methodist Church. He also served as pastor to churches including Marmaduke, Mars-Hill, Boydsville, Bay, Augusta-Tupelo, Des Arc, Weiner, Pottsville, Hoxie, and as associate pastor in Paragould. Also Green Ridge Baptist Church in Roanoke, Virginia as Children's Director; Millbrook Baptist Church in Aiken, S. C., as Youth Director; First Baptist Church in Orangeburg, S. C., as Associate Minister and First Baptist Church in Corning as Youth Director. He had also been employed by the Arkansas Social Services in Corning as Issuance Officer. He served on the Insurance Committee for the North Arkansas United Methodist Conference and served as the Insurance representative of the merger for the North Arkansas and Little Rock Conferences. After retiring, Rev. Johnson and his wife enjoyed serving as visiting Chaplains for the Legacy Hospice in Walnut Ridge. Rev. Carroll Jackson, Rev. Gary Wiles, Rev. Roger Hook, and Rev. Ann Ferris will officiate the service. Survivors include his wife, Linda Mabry Johnson of Corning; two sons Mark Winston Stafford and wife Gina of Van Buren, Chris Eugene Stafford and wife Kerie of Cabot; four grandchildren Drake and Tori of Van Buren, Ryan and Skylar of Cabot; sister Victoria Johnson Harvey and husband Jack; niece Lee Durham and husband Jay; great-niece Caroline Durham; great-nephew Jack Durham all of Washington, Ga.; aunts and uncles, Barbara S. Campbell and Herbert M. Johnson of Lenoir City, Tenn. and Forrest and Anna Lou Johnson of Knoxville, Tenn. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Jerusalem Cornerstone Foundation, PO Box 54351, Tulsa, Okla. 74145 Attn: Jon Gerrish; Legacy Hospice, Walnut Ridge, Arkansas; or the First United Methodist Church of Corning. Arrangements by Ermert Funeral Home.

Published January 13, 2013

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