On June 7, 2026, Charles Willis Johnson, Sr. left this earth to be with Jesus. He was 92 years old. Family and friends were with him throughout his final day, praying, reminiscing, and singing praises to the Heavenly Father whom Charles loved and lived for.
Charles, known as Charlie in his early years, was born on September 10, 1933, in his parents' home near Shreveport, LA. He was the youngest of six. His children loved hearing him tell stories of his growing-up years: riding Tony the horse, helping with the vacant lot vegetable gardens (including victory gardens during wartime), running errands for his mother, the “Purple Cow”, the playground tussle with the future mayor of Bossier City, hitchhiking to the rodeo, and riding the trolley to The Strand Theatre to see the latest Lone Ranger film.
Charles attended primary school at Claiborne Elementary in Shreveport and graduated from Fairpark High School in 1951. Working at the Libby Glass factory in Shreveport during summers and being in ROTC helped pay for further education at LA Tech where he graduated with a degree in Animal Husbandry in 1955.
Charles was commissioned as an officer upon graduation into the United States Air Force where he served as a pilot until he retired from the reserves. This is another period of his life his children loved to hear stories of: for example, during the time he was serving as a refueling pilot, the plane lost first one then two engines over the Atlantic and he never panicked. His children were (and are) so proud of their pilot dad. The best thing about his time in the Air Force (if you ask his children) was meeting nurse McGraw in the reserves where they both served at Barksdale Air Force Base and shared a desire to follow Jesus Christ.
In addition to serving in the USAF, Charles sold Surge Dairy equipment along with his brother Wayne, earned the Dale Carnegie Sales Talk Champion award, and wrangled cattle. He served the Stonewall community as a rural mail carrier from 1973 until he retired in 1998.
Charles' children remember being reared by a Dad who always had white hair and much wisdom. He read to his family interesting stories of missionaries in far-away places, but more importantly, the Word of God. He read the Bible through more than once to his children, and often had the family read the Psalms and Proverbs together on a monthly basis. Because Bibles had been removed from public schools, and he desired his children be educated in a God-honoring environment, Charles was instrumental in the efforts to legalize homeschooling in Louisiana (1980). He led his family in church attendance. He was a member of Heritage Baptist Church in Shreveport. He gave to support various missionaries and Christian organizations.
Charles' life was a model of Godly character. His legacy is one that will continue for generations to come. He was quiet, but his impact was great.
Charles is preceded in death by his father, Edgar Ennis Johnson, Sr. and his mother Mary Pellie Lott Johnson; his brothers Pete and Wayne Johnson, and his sisters Charlotte Finch and Faye Robertson.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Christine Amelia McGraw Johnson; their four children: son Charles Willis Johnson, Jr; daughter Emily Penner, her husband Franz & their children: Luke, Lian (Tori), Lael (Hunter), Leif, Livia, & Lorenz; daughter Mary Ascol, her husband Josh & their children: Pellie (Ethan), Josiah (Mariana), Jonas, Petra, & Joseph; daughter Elizabeth Edokpayi, her husband Frank & their children Faith and Andrew.
Charles' first great-grandbaby is due in September. He is also survived by his brother Max Johnson, brothers-in-law Bill Finch, Randall McGraw, and Terry McGraw, and many more loved ones.
A visitation will be held at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, LA 71108, on June 11, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A Celebration of Life will follow at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home on June 12, 2026, at 10:00 am. He will be laid to rest in Centuries Memorial Park. Pastor Corey Smith of Heritage Baptist Church will be officiating the services. Honoring him as pallbearers will be his grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Gideons International (https://gideons.org/) or the Institute for Creation Research (https://www.icr.org/).
