Margaret Goodger Johnson was born in Prentiss County, MS. on July 29, 1936. Just shy of her 90th birthday by 16 days, Margaret realized the promises of her lifelong faith when she met her God and Savior from the Reed Greenhouse at Traceway Manor on Monday morning, July 13, 2026. Margaret, as she was called by many, especially her Prentiss Co. friends, was one of 3 siblings born to the late Lawrence Edward Goodger and Edith Christine Guin Goodger. She attended the public schools at Wheeler and graduated in the Class of l954 where she was an ace basketball player, chosen most beautiful and Basketball Queen. She married her classmate, Billy Edward Johnson in August, l954 and they spent 68 years together until his death on July 24, 2023. To their union was born 4 children, Lynn, Mark, Rhonda and Andy. After living in Meridian a few years, the Johnson’s settled in Tupelo in l962 where Margaret worked for South Central Bell Telephone Company many years. She later was bookkeeper for her husband’s grocery business, Billy’s Bestway ,in Sherman and finished her working career as Office Manager for Blackmon Chevrolet. She and Billy were longtime active and faithful members of West Jackson St. Baptist Church. A sweet, kind soul, she never raised her voice to anyone and was a committed mother, grandmother “MiMi” and great grandmother, always attending her children’s dance recitals and sporting events and cheering the grand’s in all their endeavors. Margaret was an excellent seamstress and a huge Miss. State sports fan.
A service celebrating her life will be held at 10 AM Thursday, July 16, 2026, in the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with Bro. Bert Harper officiating. Burial will follow in Lee Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 5PM-7:30 PM Wednesday, July 15, 2026 and from 9 AM-service time on Thurs. all at Holland, which is honored to be service their friends. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at 10 am Thurs at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Live-streaming and will be archived afterwards.
“Mimi” leaves behind her children, Lynn Johnson Leathers (William) of the Bahama’s, Rhonda Johnson Whitehead (Phil) of Brandon, Ms., Mark Johnson of Saltillo and Andy Johnson (Pam) of Tampa, FL.; 10 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; her aunt, Martha Jean Ruiz of Huntsville, Al.; a special sister in law, Vicki Schwan (Brian) ; numerous nieces, nephews and their families and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Billy, her siblings, Nellie McCrory and Billy Edward Goodger and a granddaughter, Ally Grace Johnson.
Pallbearers will be her grandchildren; Nat, Matthew and Luke Leathers, Braden, Leighton and Brehan Whitehead, John Mark and Matthew Johnson and Hayes and Bennett Johnson.
The family asks that memorials be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN. 38105. Condolences may be posted on Margaret’s memorial page at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/ Obits.
