Elmer Vnoy Johnson, the youngest child of Walter and Laura Johnson was born in 1899, Mason, Tennessee. Like his siblings, Elmer helped in the fields as a youngster. Elmer married Dilly Mary Jackson (dec.) in 1919 and together they had three children, John L (dec.), Effie, and Ozell (dec.).

In 1924 Elmer moved to St. Louis along with his mother, Laura and his brother, John Henry & Family. In 1927 a fierce tornado hit St. Louis, frightening Laura enough for her to return to Tennessee. Elmer remained in St. Louis and later married his second wife, Odell Vivian Conway (dec.) and together they had nine more children: Elmer Jr. (dec), Lydia (dec.), Richard (dec.), Rosemary, Jo Ann (dec.), Wanda, Conway (dec.), Zorata, and Carl (dec.).

In 1926, Elmer started working for Ralston Purina Company in St. Louis and remained there for the next 37 years.

Like his siblings, Elmer was a devoted church goer, and was one of the founders of New Bethlehem Church in St. Louis. He later served as the treasurer and as a deacon of New Bethlehem.

Elmer died in 1971. He is buried in St. Louis.

“Pa Pa” was a strict disciplinarian and an avid church goer. He was involved so much in church that many of our friends thought that he was a preacher” [Wanda Johnson Darby –daughter]