Mr. John Wesley Johnson's Obituary
John Wesley Johnson
“If you combined the integrity of Walter Kronkite and the soul of Oprah Winfrey, you would have a
leader like John Johnson.” – Tracey Jones (Former Co-worker)
John Wesley Johnson was born in Gary, Indiana to Rev. George and Marie Webb Johnson. He and his family lived in Hattiesburg, Mississippi until he graduated high school and began his professional career. John departed this earthly domain on March 17, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents.
John was educated in the Hattiesburg Public School District, having graduated from Rowan High School in 1964. After graduation, Mr. Johnson matriculated at Rust College, an institution he loved and faithfully served for the remainder of his life. While at Rust, John was involved in several campus activities and organizations, singing in the World-Renowned Rust College Acapella Choir and the Rust College Male Quartet. He was also a member of the Wesley Foundation and was initiated in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. John received his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Rust in 1968.
After completing his undergraduate studies, John Johnson attended the University of Iowa, where he would receive his Master of Fine Arts degree in 1972. While there, John was highlighted as one of the top 100 student actors in the nation. John returned to his undergraduate alma mater to serve as a Professor of Humanities. There, he served as the chair of the theater department and was responsible for all theatrical productions. He was a demanding professor who was known for locking his door and excluding any student who didn’t arrive on time for his classes.
As a professor at Rust, John met the future love of his life, Pranati Shaw. Pranati and John were wed on January 2, 1982 at Asbury United Methodist Church in Holly Springs, Mississippi. He and Pranati would welcome two wonderful daughters to their union, Jennifer Anjali and Joya Marie.
After his tenure as professor, John Johnson began his career in broadcast journalism, a stellar career that spanned more than 35 years. It was once said that John Johnson was one of the most recognizable faces in our region. John Johnson was an active member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and numerous civic and professional organizations. John was a devoted San Francisco 49ers fan and an all-around sports enthusiast. Around the city, he could be found playing basketball, baseball, and participating in half and full marathons. He would later become an avid golf fan and spent many hours on the Lakeview Golf Course.
Whether it was listening to his Motown vinyl records, honing his photography skills, or acting in plays at the Meridian Little Theatre, John maintained his lifelong passion for the arts. Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of forty-three years, Pranati; two daughters - Jennifer Anjali of Chicago, IL and Joya Marie of Jackson, MS; one half-sister - Patsy (James) Wainwright Malloy of Havre de Grace, MD; four sisters-in-law – Prabhati Sahu of Meridian, MS, Sumati (Brian) Thomas of Jackson, MS, Minati (Randall) Wilson of Chicago, IL, and Kholada (Deonte) Quick of Clinton, MS; one brother-in-law – Satyabrata (Rajashreee) Shaw of Tampa, Florida; one goddaughter – Brigetta (Jerome) Todd of Southhaven, MS; one godson – Corey Luvene of Ft. Collins, CO, and a host of nieces, nephews. cousins, and friends.
In lieu of flowers, we kindly ask for donations to be made to The John Wesley Johnson Legacy Fund at the Community Foundation of East Mississippi. This fund honors John Wesley Johnson’s life, legacy, and contributions to the community by supporting students who are from the East MS area who are attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities, with a special focus on his alma mater, Rust College.
Donations can be made directly through the following link:
https://cfem.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund...
All checks should be payable to the Community Foundation of East Mississippi, designated for the John Wesley Johnson Legacy Fund.
To sign the online guest registry please use link below:
https://www.guestregistry.com/.../L3VZTUJPNVBaWW1FLzZESXB...
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