Obituary of Gaytha Johnson

Funeral services for Gaytha Johnson, age 69 of Grayson, will be held at 11 AM Friday, January 29, 2016 from the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in Chatham with Bro. Tim Adkins officiating. Interment will follow at Old Union Cemetery, west of Grayson. Visitation will be Thursday, January 28, 2016 at First Baptist Church in Chatham from 5 PM to 8 PM. Mrs. Johnson was born on March 1, 1946 in Columbia, LA to the union of her parents; Melvin and Ethel Bratton Bates and passed from this life on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at Ruston Nursing and Rehab Center, Ruston after a lengthy illness. Gaytha was a nurse at heart before she ever received her LPN and RN degree from NLU (now ULM). She had a calling for taking care of people and helping them through their illnesses and injuries, especially her family members that she put all her strength and love into until they were healed. Gaytha was a valiant force in the medical industry as she started the Oncology Unit at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, began the Medical Center at the Jackson Parish Correctional Center for the inmates and mentored several student nurses at ULM. She was dutiful in her church as a Sunday School teacher for many years and sang in the choir. She had many hobbies including working in her yard, sewing, embroidery work, cooking and baking. She was even a nurse and caregiver to all the Granddogs that she took in. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Rube Bates; son-in-law, Donnie Jarrell and brother-in-law, Teddy Lee Johnson. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 52 years, R.D. Johnson of Grayson; son, Royce Johnson and wife, Louise of Montz; daughter, Tonya Jarrell of Covington; grandchildren, Kristina Hutto and husband, Stven and Logan Jarrell; sisters-in-law: Sherry Bates and Lecolian Arrant; brother-in-law, Harvey Arrant and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Pallbearers will be Harvey Arrant, Charles Carter, Darrell Arrant, Jamie Bates, Harry Wittington and Danny McGrew. Honorary pallbearer will be Ricky Pierce. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Donnie Jarrell Foundation for ALS, c/o Tony LeMon, 321 N. Vermont St., Covington, LA 70433. The family would like to express their thanks for the love and support they have received during this time to the following people, doctors, nurses, staff and agencies: her church family at First Baptist Church in Chatham, Lily Jenkins, Marcie Tisdale, Sara and Edna Johnson, Lecolian Arrant, Ruston Nursing and Rehab Center, Professional Hospice Care, Dr. Wood, Dr. King Scott, Jackson Parish Sheriff Department and the Jackson Parish Ambulance Service. The care and compassion you showed the family and Mrs. Gaytha during her illness will always be greatly appreciated.