There will be a graveside service for Reverend Jerry Raymond Johnson at Huntsville Memory Garden on May 1, 2024 at 11:00am. Prior to the graveside there will be a visitation at 9:30am at Berryhill Funeral Home in Huntsville, AL. Additionally, a service honoring the life of Reverend Johnson will be held Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Cathedral Assembly of God Church, 3605 Hwy 45N, Meridian, MS.
The family will be greeting visitors an hour prior to the service at the church. Officiating the services will be Reverend Kenneth Johnson, pastor of East Side Assembly of God Church in Cantonment, FL and brother of Jerry.Jerry passed away peacefully in his home at 80 years of age on April 25, 2024. Born December 3, 1943, to parents Ralph and Gertrude Johnson in Baldwin County, Alabama. he was the sixth child of what would be nine children born to Ralph and Gertrude. He was raised in the communities of Halls Fork, AL and Bratt, FL. He graduated from Ernest Ward High School in Walnut Hill, FL and then attended William Carey University in Hattiesburg, MS where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in biology. After completing college, Jerry returned to the Baldwin County area. At this time, his brother Dale encouraged him to ‘visit’ the local five and dime where a student of Dale’s was working as a cashier. Dale was correct in his intuition, and a few months later, on November 4, 1965 Jerry married that cashier, Ms. Elizabeth Ann Busbee of Molino, FL.
Jerry and Ann established their first home in the Atmore, AL area, where Jerry spent his first year after college teaching math and science at Perdido Junior High School. During this time, Jerry felt called into the ministry and he and Ann decided after the school year to begin their ministry as evangelist. They would spend the next four years on the evangelistic field before taking a pastorate position in Newton, AL. After this in 1972, Jerry and Ann moved to Meridian, MS where they had accepted a pastorate position. Jerry and Ann would serve as pastors in the Meridian area for over 34 years before retiring. In this time, they welcomed their daughter, Tracy DeAnne Johnson, to the world. They were loving, supportive parents that provided for her an example of true Christianity and how to live each day by trust and faith in God. During this time the congregation in Meridian truly became like family to the Johnson’s and provided love and support to the family not only during their time in Meridian but even to the present.
In 2001, Jerry welcomed the light of his life, his granddaughter, Abigail Vanderslice into the world. They formed an especially close bond after the
passing of his wife Ann in 2010, and just as he had with his daughter he endeavored to attend and support every activity in Abbey’s life. He was
incredibly proud of her hard work and experiences and excited for her upcoming college graduation and future career as a mechanical engineer.
After his retirement from the congregation in Meridian, MS, Jerry was requested by a group in Decatur, AL to help establish a non-denominational
Pentecostal church in the area. At that time he and his wife, Ann prayed about the situation and agreed to assist with the beginning of Riverside Cathedral. Jerry served at this congregation until ready to ‘re-retire’ from ministry in 2011 after the passing of his wife. During this time and after this retirement from ministry, Jerry also enjoyed working at the Alabama Constitution Village in Huntsville, AL. He is most known for his role as the cabinet shop craftsman and blacksmith. He dearly loved and enjoyed his time with his fellow co- workers in the village.
Jerry is preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Elizabeth Ann Johnson, his father, Ralph Johnson, his mother, Gertrude Howell Johnson, his sisters, Lois Johnson and Mollie Huggins, and his brothers, Rodrick Johnson and Darrell Johnson. He is survived by his daughter, Tracy Johnson (John Bounds), his granddaughter, Abigail Vanderslice, his sisters, Doris Barnhill and Becky Melton (Wayne), his brothers, Dale Johnson (Peggy) and Kenneth Johnson (Vickie), his brother in law, Truman Busbee, sister in law, Betty Kast Sowell, a multitude of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews and several especially close friends including Pat Phillips of Tyrone, GA.
After ministering at thousands of church services, weddings, and funerals, Jerry preached his last sermon behind a church pulpit on his 80th birthday, December 3, 2023. However, as his health continued to decline he was unable to attend church in person. During this last weeks he and a few family members gathered on Sunday morning to worship together. During this he reminded his family to holdfast to God. It is not about how we start the race but about how we finish it.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4: 7-8
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Cathedral Assembly of God, 3605 Hwy 45N, Meridian, MS.
