Elton M. Johnson

Elton Merkerson Johnson died Thursday, December 11, 2014 having been preceded in death by his parents Bentley and Mable Bivens Johnson and his brother Detrois Johnson whose wife, Mary Jo, survives.

Elton was born in Hardin County in 1925 where he lived for 89 years. He was the owner and operator of The Savannah Cleaners from 1945 through 1995. Having been reborn by faith in Jesus Christ in 1934, he was a devoted member of the Counce First Baptist Church and a friend of the Burton Branch Baptist Church. For five years he served as the First District Fire Chief of Bruton Branch and was the first President of the Bruton Branch Property Owners Association; he was affectionately known as the "Mayor" of Bruton Branch. Elton also served as a Hardin County Auxiliary Deputy Sheriff and was a committee member for the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization. As a lifelong citizen of Hardin County, he enjoyed boating, fishing and buying and selling real estate. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Elton leaves his sister, Frances Stanford whose husband Dave is deceased, a niece, Debbie Watson, and her husband, Steve, and two nephews, Tommy Johnson and his wife, Vicki, and Jimmy Johnson who is deceased and whose wife Jane survives. He also leaves a step-granddaughter, Susan Knight, and her husband, Jack, and a step-grandson, Steve Smith, along with a host of other family members including his devoted and caring family friend, Faye Trim.

A special thank you goes to Dr. Emad Mohamed and the wonderful nurses and staff of Magnolia Regional Health Center in Corinth, Mississippi.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Counce First Baptist Church, the Bruton Branch Baptist Church or Gideons International.