Johnny B. "John" Ladner Jr.

John lived a life that could not easily be summed up by the positions he held, the teams he coached, or the titles he earned. He was an educator, coach, administrator, mentor, husband, father, grandfather, friend, patriot, storyteller, traveler, and faithful servant of God. Above all, he was a man who believed deeply in people—especially young people—and spent a lifetime encouraging them to become more than they believed they could be.

John was born on February 2, 1937, and grew up in Lumberton, Mississippi, a community that remained close to his heart throughout his life. He was raised by his grandparents, as well as by various members of the Lumberton community who opened their homes to him for periods of time during his youth. Perhaps because so many people helped shape his own life, John grew into a man who understood the importance of showing up for others.

John graduated from Lumberton in 1955. While in high school, he distinguished himself as an exceptional athlete and leader, lettering in football, basketball, and baseball. He was selected to play in the Mississippi Bernard Blackwell All-Star football game. John acquired the nickname “Scrooge” after starring in that role in the school’s production of “A Christmas Carol”.

One of the stories John often shared about his life involved the high school coaches who refused to let his potential go to waste. After graduation, John had gone to work at Crown Zellerbach, but his former coaches came looking for him, retrieved him from his job, and convinced him that he needed to take advantage of the opportunity he had been given. Their intervention changed the course of his life.

John accepted a scholarship to Mississippi State University, where he lettered in football and baseball. Because of this as well as his personality trait of fierce determination, he was often referred to by friends and future co-workers as “Bulldog”. John earned his bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State in accounting in 1960, followed by a master’s degree from Mississippi College and a specialist from Jackson State University.

Accounting would not become his life's work. Once again, the coaches and mentors from Lumberton saw something in John that would ultimately shape his future. They encouraged him to return home and become a high school teacher and coach. That decision not only began a career devoted to education and young people—it also led John to the greatest love of his life.

In Lumberton, he met Barbara Jo “BJ” Hughes. After only a few weeks of dating, John and BJ knew they had found something special. They began a marriage and partnership that would last over 52 years and build the family that John would ultimately consider his greatest accomplishment.

Throughout his coaching career, John worked at Lumberton High School; West Marion High School in Foxworth, Mississippi; and Provine High School in Jackson, MS. He coached football, basketball, baseball, and track while also teaching History and Typing. Eventually, Coach Ladner moved from the sidelines and classroom into school administration. He served a brief stint as principal at Byram High School but joyfully spent most of his administrative career as an assistant principal at Forest Hill High School, where he retired. Retirement did not suit a man who had spent his entire life working, leading, and serving others.

After retiring from Jackson Public Schools, John and BJ returned home to Lumberton. John continued his career in education as assistant superintendent and eventually interim superintendent of education, once again giving back to the community that had given so much to him as a boy.

His influence extended far beyond the schools in which he worked. John served for many years as Executive Director of the Mississippi Association of Student Councils and he was inducted into their Hall of Fame. In that role, he traveled throughout Mississippi and the nation mentoring young people and other educators, who lovingly referred to him as “Papa Smurf”.

John loved people, but he also loved the open road. Traveling with his family and friends was one of his greatest passions, and John proudly visited every state in the United States except Hawaii—a fact he explained quite simply: he couldn't drive there. He often claimed he would finally visit “when they build a bridge”.

Some of his favorite trips took him through Arkansas and Missouri, and no one who knew John needed a travel agent for Branson. John had already mapped the route, selected the stops, found the restaurants, and probably had a story about each place along the way. Friends and family routinely sought his advice before traveling, and John was always happy to provide it—whether they asked for quite as much detail as he provided or not. That was part of his charm.

John was a dynamic storyteller with a quick sense of humor and a remarkable ability to make people feel at ease. He was kind, loyal, independent, hardworking, generous, supportive, and endlessly entertaining. His warm, magnetic personality drew people to him throughout his life. Many friends became so close that the word “friend” no longer seemed adequate; they simply became part of his adopted family.

John was also deeply patriotic. He proudly served in the Mississippi Army National Guard and later helped young people by becoming an ambassador for service academies, helping numerous students gain appointments. His connection to the service academies was especially meaningful as his son was a graduate of the Air Force Academy and had a distinguished 30 year military career, retiring as a Brigadier General in the Mississippi National Guard.

For all the young people John coached, taught, mentored, and encouraged during his career, no team mattered to him more than his own family. He was one of his daughter's most devoted basketball supporters and could regularly be found on the sidelines or heard on the radio as a color commentator at her games. John was immensely proud of Vicki’s two MHSAA state basketball championships and MAIS overall basketball championship. During playoff runs, Coach Ladner even returned to familiar territory by serving as a scouting coach. He followed the games his son and later his grandson John coached with the same enthusiasm. Watching his children and grandson continue the coaching tradition he loved so much was a source of tremendous pride. The relationships with other coaches, teammates, players, and even a few officials throughout his life were incredibly meaningful to him. Because of this, Coach Ladner was a longtime member, supporter, and contributor of the Mississippi Association of Coaches.

John's faith was another constant throughout his life. He was a devoted member of Lumberton Methodist Church, where he served for many years as Chairman of the Administrative Board and was a Representative to the National Methodist Convention. His faith shaped the way he approached family, service, friendship, and community.

Following the death of his beloved BJ and his recovery from open heart surgery, John began another unexpected chapter of his life at LiveWell Rehab in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. True to form, he did not simply become a participant there; he became part of the community. Johnny’s determination, humor, and outgoing personality once again brought new people into his life, and he became affectionately known as the “Mayor of LiveWell”.

Through every chapter of his 89 years, John remained most proud of his family, his greatest accomplishment, his favorite subject, and the center of his world. He celebrated their victories, supported them through disappointments, traveled to their games and events, and took enormous pride in watching the next generations build lives and legacies of their own.

For a man whose own life was changed because a few coaches cared enough to come looking for him and insist that he make the most of his opportunities, there is something fitting about the thousands of lives John went on to influence himself. He spent a lifetime doing for others what those coaches once did for him; seeing potential, showing up, and changing the course of a life.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Wilma and Johnny Ladner, Sr. one sister, Mildred Margarita Stewart, and his beloved wife, Barbara Jo Ladner. Left to forever cherish Johnny’s memory are one son, John Scott Ladner (Kathie); one daughter, Vicki Rutland (Rusty); two brothers, Leonard Claude Ladner (Carolyn) and Coy Eugene Ladner; one sister, Marita Meryl Shay (Pat); six grandchildren, Katherine Michelle Borho (Andrew), Amanda Jo Brand (Will), John Michael Ladner (Kate), Hobson Lane Rutland (Savanna), John Todd Rutland and Joseph Lee Rutland; Four great-grandchildren, John Owen Rutland, Cooper Lane Rutland and Dawson Vic Rutland, and Madeline Katherine Borho, along with a host of nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to attend Johnny’s memorial service on Saturday, September 5, 2026 for 11:30 am at Lumberton Methodist Church, 410 W Ave, Lumberton, MS 39455.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Lumberton Methodist Church, POB 487, 410 W 11th Ave, Lumberton, MS 39455.