Polly Jo Rikard Johnson; August 25, 1935 – July 11, 2026WE LOVE YOU MORE
Polly was born in Belgreen, Alabama to Rev. J.G. Rikard and Willard Worth Jones Rikard. The family later moved to Russellville, Alabama, and then to Largo, Florida. It was in Largo she met William R. “Rod” Johnson, her high school sweetheart, whom she married in 1955. They lived in Largo where their children, Linda, Carol, and Casey were born. In 1973 they moved to Haines City, Florida. While living in Haines City, Polly started a preschool, thereby launching a number of children into kindergarten both well behaved and ready to learn. She was later an administrative assistant to the principal of Alta Vista Elementary School, the position from which she retired.
In 1993 Polly and Rod moved to Frankfort, Alabama where they spent ten years living in the country in the home place of Polly’s grandfather, where she canned vegetables grown in their large garden. She and Rod later built a log cabin in Frankfort on land once owned by Polly’s grandfather. Not being rustically inclined, she made sure that cabin had all the comforts of home. It became the family gathering place, a getaway in the deep woods, a place where you can feel the echoes of her family’s deep ties to the area.
In 2003, Polly and Rod returned to Florida and moved to Milton to be closer to their daughter, Linda, and their grandson, Peyton. They found a home in a wooded, peaceful neighborhood where they lived for two happy decades, hurricanes notwithstanding.
Polly and Rod moved to Sturgis, Mississippi in 2022 to be closer to Casey and his wife, Ashli, who had been fully embraced as a third daughter and a bonus sister. Linda also moved to Starkville and Carol moved to Sturgis. The family was together again. We had come full circle.
Polly once again found herself in the country. She settled in, frequently remarking how beautiful she found the Mississippi sky, “the bluest sky and the whitest clouds.’’ She loved the changes in season, especially the spring wisteria blooms.
Polly was sweet and sassy, strong and southern. She was compassionate but did not tolerate nonsense. She was loving, supportive, and generous to her family and friends. Polly was always up for fun or a game of canasta. She always won.
To say she will be missed is an understatement.
She is survived by her husband, Rod, Linda Johnson and her son, Peyton Johnson of McLean, Virginia, Carol Johnson, Casey Johnson and his wife, Ashli Brown Johnson and their godson Joseph Chromiak, sister Jean Rikard of Birmingham, Alabama, and nephews, nieces, and cousins. The family is forever grateful for the love and care shown to her by Alicia Boyd over the last year.
A celebration of Polly’s life will be held Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Big Creek Methodist Church, 4841 Sturgis/Maben Road, Sturgis, Mississippi. Visitation from 11 am to noon, service to immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Oktibbeha County Humane Society or the charity of your choice.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.
–Mary Elizabeth Frye
