Chester Johnson

He was born to the late Chester Forrest, Sr. and Leone Gaught Johnson on August 2, 1928 in Camden, Arkansas. He grew up and went to school in Camden.

After graduation from Camden High School, he attended Louisiana Tech, earning a BS degree in Civil Engineering.

Just prior to his graduation, he married his soul mate, Betty Greaves, who became the center of his life for the next sixty three years.

During the Korean War, he served as a Naval officer for over three years.

Upon completion of military service, he began a forty year career, as a registered engineer, designing, building, operating and managing paper manufacturing facilities. He retired in 1987 from Stone Container Corp. as General Manager of their Savannah, Georgia facilities. However, soon after that early retirement, he took a position in Birmingham with BE&K engineering and construction Co. He served five years as a project manager, before retiring and serving as a consultant for several years.

Upon retirement from BE&K, he became a founder and first president of the BE&K retiree’s Association.

Forrest was a life long avid golfer and was a long time member of Chase Lake Country Club. He served on the board of directors and was president of the Senior Golf Association.

Wherever

he lived, he was an active member of a Baptist Church. He was an ordained deacon for over fifty years, and a Sunday School teacher for over forty years. In Birmingham, he was an active member of Riverchase Baptist Church, serving as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and trustee.

He felt his greatest accomplishment was having a wonderful family. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Betty and by sons Mark (Marilyn) and David (Claudia), and a loving daughter, Vickie Furr (Gary). There are ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren and all were his pride and joy. He is also survived by a brother, Richard K. Johnson and a sister, Lavenia Craig.