Obituary

Melba Dean Johnson

November 28, 1939 - September 7, 2023

Melba Dean Dillon Johnson, age 83, was born November 28, 1939, died at her home in the Lexie community near Tylertown, MS on September 7, 2023. She was known as Nana by her beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

She is survived by her two sons, Brad (Joy) Johnson of Wesson, MS, and Brett (Susan) Johnson of Tylertown, MS. Brad’s daughters are Claire (Daniel) Drake, from Columbus, MS, Chloe’ Johnson and Clancie Johnson from Brookhaven, MS. Brett’s children are Zack (Brittany) Johnson from Tylertown, Katherine (Tyler) Todd from Oak Grove, and Chess Johnson from Tylertown. Nana’s precious great grandchildren are Emma Johnson, Major Byron Johnson, and Mamie Johnson. She is also survived by a sister, Gayle (Gary) Strickland, and two brothers, Jerome “Bud” (Jean) Dillon and Elwin Dillon. She leaves behind a host of dear friends from Lexie Baptist Church and former coworkers from Tylertown and surrounding areas.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 9:30 AM until 12:00 noon at Lexie Baptist Church, 4 W Lexie Road, Tylertown, Mississippi. Burial will follow in Tylertown Cemetery II. Bro. Randall Griffin will officiate. Capps Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. 

Mrs. Johnson is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Major Byron Johnson, and her mother and father, Georgia Lee Dillon and John T. Dillon.

Melba Johnson worked at Haspel Clothing in Tylertown. When her boys were in college, she decided to go to Nursing school and spent a long and accomplished career as a registered nurse at Riverside Medical Center in Franklinton, LA. Her doors were always open to provide a delicious meal, along with a fresh baked cake, pie, or cookies. She loved growing beautiful plants and flowers and spent hours tending her garden. There was never any doubt how proud she was of her family, and she had the ability to make each of them feel uniquely loved and special for who they were and what they had accomplished. As a Christian and a woman of prayer, many times, she said “I can’t do much, but I can pray for you.” She was a woman of faith and she loved her church, who, in turn, also loved her.

Pallbearers will be Tommy Brumfield, Kyle Johnson, Chess Johnson, Tyler Todd, Bill Seton, and Bradley Reid. Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of Lexie Baptist Church,  Ronnie Johnson, Mac Conerly, Larry Ray, Maxy Hill, and Ray Dunnam.    

Special music will be performed byJo Holmes and Annette Conerly, led by Adrian Wood.