Royce Johnson Sr Obituary

Funeral services for RD Johnson, Sr., age 85 of Grayson, will be held at 2 PM Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Riser Funeral Home in Columbia. Interment will follow at Old Union Cemetery, west of Grayson. Visitation will be on Saturday, August 30, 2025, from 12 to 2 PM at Riser Funeral Home in Columbia. 

Royce Dwain Johnson Sr was born on June 6, 1940, in Monroe, Louisiana to the union of his parents Boyce and Anna Lou Johnson. He passed from this life on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at Cornerstone Specialty Hospital after a brief illness. RD served his country honorably for four years after joining the United States Air Force at the age of sixteen. Following his discharge, he began his civilian career working for Graphic Packaging International in West Monroe. He retired after dedicating forty years of his life to the papermill and built his and his beloved wife Gaytha’s dream home on Caney Lake. RD enjoyed his days fishing and spending time with his family but missed the comradery from years of hard work. He joined the Jackson Parish Sheriff's Department as a reserve deputy and eventually went full-time after realizing his love for police work, serving his community for 15 years before retiring for a second time. RD was also a member of the Columbia Masonic Lodge #164 F&A M and a Shriner. In his spare time, he loved the outdoors, everything from hunting and fishing to gardening. He especially enjoyed his weekly camp night every Thursday night with “the boys”. RD loved and enjoyed his life to the fullest remaining social up until the very end. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Gaytha Johnson; parents; brother, Teddy Johnson; son-in-law, Donnie Jarrell; brother-in-law, Harvey Arrant; sister-in-law, Sherry Bates; and brother-in-law, Rube Bates. 

Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Royce Johnson, Jr; daughter, Tonya Gilbert (Keith); sister, Lecolian Arrant; grandchildren: Logan Jarrell (Jeremy Moore), Kristina Hutto (Stven), Avery Gilbert, Brennan Gilbert; three great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

 Pallbearers will be Royce Johnson, Jr., Charles Carter (Hobo), Darrell Arrant, Keith Gilbert, Paul Trosclair, Andy Brown, Wesley Horton, Jared Horton. Honorary Pallbearers will be Larry Rogers, Larry Pitard, Danny Perkins, Danny McGrew, Truman Chapman, Ricky Sims and the Jackson Parish Sherriff’s Department. 

The family would like to express their sincere thanks for the love and support they have received during this time from the health-care professionals, facilities and staff to his Church family at Siloam Springs Community Church in Jonesboro and finally to his law enforcement family at the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Department. The care and compassion you showed RD and his family during his illness will always be greatly appreciated.