Dr. Bob Tom Johnson, 80, passed away on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at his residence in Forest, Mississippi.
Funeral visitation was held Sunday, November 5, 2023, from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Ott and Lee Forest, and Monday, November 6, 2023, from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Funeral services were held following visitation at 1:00 at Forest Baptist Church. Burial followed at Pulaski Cemetery in Pulaski, Mississippi. Pastor Reid Stevens officiated the service and Pastor Bobo Phillipson officiated the graveside service under the direction of Ott and Lee Funeral Home.
Bob Tom was born to Jesse Clemon and Zola Carrie Miles Johnson on February 15, 1943, in Pulaski, Mississippi. Bob Tom graduated from Morton High School in Morton, Mississippi in 1961. He was awarded a basketball scholarship to play for Denver Brackeen at East Central Junior College in Decatur, Mississippi. While at ECJC, he met his future wife, Ellen Elizabeth Thompson. He formed an immediate bond with his basketball teammates at ECJC and they shared a lifetime friendship. He transferred to the University of Southern Mississippi to become part of the Golden Giants Basketball team. This “special group” was known as the “Green Team” and they enjoyed annual weekend get-togethers to reminisce. Bob Tom obtained a B.S. and M.Ed. He coached high school boys basketball in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. He later returned to ECJC serving as Dean of Men and Instructor. Bob Tom worked for Scott County Schools, serving as Director of Federal Programs. He returned to Mississippi State University to obtain his Doctorate degree. He served as Staff Specialist, Mississippi Educational Services Center, Division of Continuing Education, MSU. Returning to Scott County, he continued to serve as Director of Federal Programs and Assistant Superintendent of Education. Upon graduation, he was selected as Executive Director, Mississippi State Textbook Procurement Commission. The following year, moving under the umbrella of the Mississippi State Department of Education, he served as Director of Division of Curriculum and Textbooks, Division of Minimum Programs, and Teacher Certification. He taught as an adjunct professor in higher education which included: Mississippi State University, Delta State University, Jackson State University, and Mississippi College. After retiring from MDE, he began a career as an independent sales representative for several educational publishing companies and did consultant work for the Department of Textbooks with MDE. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at East Central Community College in 2005.
Bob Tom was a member of several professional organizations, including Phi Delta Kappa, the National Association of State Textbook Administrators (NASTA), serving as Secretary, Vice-President, President, and Representative from NASTA to the Advisory Commission of Textbook Specifications, and National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). He co-authored “Accountability and Instructional Management (AIM) Handbook for the Scott County Schools”, “A Model for the Prevention and Reduction of School Dropouts”, and his dissertation “Principals’ Appraisal of the Management System of the Central Offices in the Public School Districts of Mississippi”. Bob Tom delivered the keynote address at the annual convention of the American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, Kentucky. He also served on the panel for the Tennessee Book Company. Bob Tom enjoyed talking on his Ham Radio and going to Ham Fests and learning new things about it. K5ZLZ has signed off. His greatest pastime was driving a charter bus with Bus Supply Charters, Incorporated, which took him all over the United States and introduced him to many new people. He never met a stranger. He loved talking to people everywhere he went. He was an avid reader who particularly enjoyed the author, Pat Conroy. In recent weeks, Bob Tom and Ellen had visited the Conroy Literary Center and gravesite in Beaufort, South Carolina. He sometimes would read two books a week in addition to studying his Bible and Sunday School lessons.
He was a faithful member of Forest Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and Sunday School Teacher for many years. He was a very kind and caring person, always willing to help in any situation. He was a true Southern gentleman. He was the same person today as yesterday and was always good for his word.
Bob Tom is preceded in death by his parents, J.C. and Zola Miles Johnson; Step-mother, Gladys Shelton Johnson; Son, Bob Tom Johnson, Junior; Sister, Ruby Nell Johnson Stancill; and Brother, James Russell Johnson.
He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Ellen Thompson Johnson; daughter, Amy Johnson Easton (Aaron) of Spring Hill, Tennessee; son, Jay Miles Johnson (Ruby) of Pulaski, Mississippi; and daughter, Joy Johnson Lowrey of Louisville, Mississippi; grandchildren, Jonathan McGriff (Samantha) of Newport News, Virginia; Carrie Smith (Andrew) of Pulaski, Mississippi; Matlyn Lowrey and Marley Lowrey of Louisville, Mississippi; Jayden Johnson of Pulaski, Mississippi; Ainsley Easton and Alivia Easton of Spring Hill, Tennessee; great grandsons, Asher and Cody Smith of Pulaski, Mississippi. Serving as pallbearers were Allan Atkison, Butch Barton, Johnny Emmons, Drew Kenna, Charlie May, Terry McMillan, Bingham Moncrief, and Bobby Shumaker. Honorary pallbearers were the Joy Makers Sunday School Class.
