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Submitted: 11/11/16 • Approved: 11/14/16 • Last Updated: 11/17/16 • R1160781-G1160779-S3
Virginia
Jan 21, 1928 - June 27, 2007
Jim
Aug 20, 1924 - Feb 13, 2010
*Obituary
Virginia Lillian Morris Johnson 79, died Wednesday, June 27 at her home in Conway. She was born on January 21, 1928 in Conway, the daughter of Jesse Lyman Morris and Marion Morgan Morris. Her family later moved to El Paso, Arkansas. Following the untimely death of her mother when she was 14, she moved to Bee Branch, and was raised by her mother's sister and her husband, Mildred (Boots) and Thomas Quinn French, and graduated as valedictorian of her class at Southside High School in Bee Branch and won a scholarship to Draughon's School of Business in Little Rock.
While living in Little Rock she met a recent law school graduate, James Douglas (Jim) Johnson of Crossett. They married on December 21, 1947. She served as his legal secretary for his entire career.
Following Jim's election to the Arkansas Senate from Ashley and Chicot Counties, she served on the staff of the Senate during the 1951 and 1953 legislative sessions. A skilled campaigner, she assisted her husband in his unsuccessful race for Governor in 1956, and his successful race for the Arkansas Supreme Court in 1958. In 1966, she spoke at political rallies all across the state for her husband's candidacy for Governor, when he defeated a field of seven to win the Democratic nomination. In 1968, she became the first woman ever to run for Governor of Arkansas, winning a spot in the Democratic runoff, in a six candidate field.
She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers.
She is survived by her husband of 59 years, three sons, Mark Johnson (Catherine) of Little Rock, Dave Johnson (Shannon) of Fayetteville, and Danny Johnson (Betty) of Conway. Two sisters, Rose Morris Mahan of Damascus and Mary Jane Morris McMenemy of Gilbert, Arizona. Two brothers, Frank Morris of Conway and John Morris of Costa Rica. Six grandchildren, Allison Johnson, Andrea Johnson, Patrick Johnson, Shelby Johnson, Adam Johnson, and Mary Beth Johnson.
*Obituary
James Douglas "Jim" Johnson, 85, of Conway, known to all as "Justice Jim", died Saturday, February 13, 2010 at his home on Beaverfork Lake.
He was born on August 20, 1924 in North Crossett, Arkansas, the son of T.W. "Tommy" Johnson and Myrtle Long Johnson.
He graduated from Crossett High School in 1942, and attended Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee.
On December 7, 1942, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, attaining the rank of corporal and serving in the Pacific Theatre.
Following World War II, he completed his law degree at Cumberland University in 1947 and returned to Crossett to practice law. While studying for the Arkansas bar exam in Little Rock, he met his soul mate, Virginia Morris of El Paso. He proposed to her in a taxi behind the State Capitol, a building which would have a special place in their lives. They were married on December 21, 1947.
After establishing a law practice in North Crossett, in 1950 he ran for State Senator in Ashley and Chicot counties, winning the seat and at the age of 26 becoming the youngest State Senator in Arkansas history. He was reelected in 1952 and in 1954 ran for Attorney General, losing to incumbent Tom Gentry. In 1956 he ran for Governor, finishing second in the Democratic primary to then-Governor Orval Faubus. In 1958 he ran for Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court, and was elected to an eight year term.
During his tenure as a Supreme Court Justice, he was noted for his opinions supporting the rights of employees in worker's compensation cases, often noting that in giving up the right to sue, the employee was entitled to the benefit of the doubt in such cases. While sometimes finding himself in the court's minority, he took great pride in his dissenting opinions. The day of his resignation from the Court in April of 1966, he received a call from the late Wiley Branton, Sr., a civil rights lawyer, who stated that he had been an outstanding and "color-blind" judge, a compliment in which he always took great pride.
Leaving the Supreme Court in 1966, he embarked on a campaign for Governor of Arkansas. With an ultimate campaign budget of only $22,000, he barnstormed the state with a country music band, "Gene Williams' Country Junction." Known as a tremendous orator, he made over 80 stump speeches on courthouse squares that summer, defeating seven opponents, most with substantially larger budgets, to become the Democratic Nominee for Governor. That fall, he lost the general election to Winthrop Rockefeller. There was no disclosure of campaign finances in those days, but most historians agree that Governor Rockefeller spent millions of his own money to secure election. In 1968 he ran for the U.S. Senate, losing to Senator J. William Fulbright in the Democratic primary, while his wife, Virginia, became the first woman to run for Governor of Arkansas. Later that year, he managed the successful campaign in Arkansas of American Party presidential candidate George Wallace, who secured Arkansas' six electoral votes.
In 1980, disillusioned with the Carter administration, he became a Republican and supported the election of Ronald Reagan as president, helping Reagan carry Arkansas. In 1984 he was the Republican nominee for Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court.
He is survived by his sons, Mark Johnson of Little Rock, John David (Dave) Johnson of Fayetteville, and Joseph Daniel (Danny) Johnson of Conway. One daughter-in-law, Catherine Johnson of Little Rock. Eight grandchildren, Allison Johnson and Andrea Johnson of Little Rock, Patrick Johnson, Shelby Johnson, and Adam Johnson of Greenwood, Mary Beth Johnson of Conway, Rachael Daugherty of Little Rock, and Josh McKibben of Little Rock. He is also survived by his lifelong friend and confidant, Phil Stratton of Conway.
He was preceaded in death by his parents, two brothers, Normie W. Johnson of Crossett and Thomas L. (T.L.) Johnson of Crossett, as well as his wife of 59 years, Virginia Johnson in 2007.
Arrangements were held by Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Conway.
Contributed on 11/11/16 by hawkinsdonna
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Record #: 1160781