Richard Johnson was born in 1895 in Mason, Tennessee, the third child of Walter and Laura Johnson. Farming was forever part of Richard’s life. He spent many of his childhood days working in the fields. Later in his life, he owned and sharecropped land in and around Tipton and Shelby Counties in Tennessee.

Richard enlisted in the army at age 23 and served his country during World War I (he was honorably discharged in 1918), at Camp Sherman in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Richard married his first wife, Della while he was still a teenager. To this union three children were born, James Elmer (dec.), Mosby (dec.) and Katherine (dec.). Richard and his second wife Alice had no children. However, Richard and his third wife, Johnnie Lee Blackwell Saddler (dec.), raised five children, Marie (dec.), Earnestine, Richard Calvin (dec.), Florence, and Donzell.

Always active in the church, Richard served as the chairman of the Deacon and Usher Board at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Atoka, Tennessee. If you ever have the occasion to visit the church you will see Richard’s name is inscribed on the cornerstone.

One of Richard’s favorite past-times was sitting around his grandchildren telling them war stories and humorous fables.

Richard died in 1966. His final request was to be buried alongside his mother, Laura in Robinson Cemetery in Mason, Tennessee–under a large oak tree.

“What I remember most about Grandpa was the advice he use to give us as children. He would say: Whatever you choose to be, be the best. If you choose to be a ditch digger, be the best ditch digger.” [Vick James–grandson]