floyd johnson
1897-1968
Life Story
Floyd Johnson was born around 1897 in the Altare community of Newton County, Mississippi, a region known for its deep agricultural roots and close-knit families. He was the son of Pete Johnson (1857–?) and Eliza Evans (1868–?), and the maternal grandson of Pleasant Evans (1830–?) and Kizzie Ann Evans (1833–1924)—pioneering figures in the community whose faith and resilience shaped generations of their descendants.
From an early age, Floyd worked on the family farm, learning the values of hard work, self-reliance, and commitment to family that would guide him throughout his life. Growing up in Altare, he was deeply influenced by the community’s church-centered way of life, where faith served as both a moral compass and a source of strength.
On January 11, 1921, Floyd married Rose Evans (1902–1925), uniting two prominent local families. Their marriage reflected the shared traditions and close bonds within the Altare community, and together they looked forward to building a life rooted in love, family, and service. Tragically, their time together was brief, as Rose passed away just four years later, in 1925, leaving Floyd to carry her memory with quiet strength and dignity.
In his later years, Floyd continued to live in Newton County, remaining connected to his extended family and the Altare Missionary Baptist Church, where many of his loved ones worshiped and were laid to rest. He was known for his humble spirit and his steady presence, traits that earned him respect from those who knew him.
Floyd passed away on January 6, 1968, at the East Mississippi State Hospital in Meridian, a facility that specialized in mental and behavioral health. His final years were marked by personal challenges, reflecting both the limitations of medical understanding at the time and the quiet endurance with which he faced life’s trials.
Funeral services were conducted at Altare Missionary Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Dudley Walker, with burial in the church graveyard—a resting place shared by generations of his family. His life story, though marked by hardship, remains a testament to perseverance, faith, and the enduring bonds of kinship that have defined the Johnson and Evans families for more than a century.
Floyd is survived by one son, George Johnson of Lawrence; a sister, Mrs. Della Johnson Culpepper of Missouri; and two half-brothers, Charlie Johnson of Detroit, Michigan, and Bill Johnson of Newton.
Resting Place
Altare Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1900 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- The Newton Record, Floyd Johnson Obituary, Wed, Jan 17, 1968 ·Page 10
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