Funeral services for Reverend Otho Johnson, age 93, of Bassfield, were held on Saturday, March 28, 2015, at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Bassfield. Interment was in the Taylor Cemetery in Carson. Reverend Clifton Preston officiated. Reeves Funeral Home of Mount Olive was in charge of the arrangements.

Active pallbearers were Masonic brothers, M.W. King Hiram Grand Lodge.

Honorary pallbearers: Roosevelt Bullard, L.C. Johnson, Roger Johnson, Oliver Dean, Leroy Johnson, Clarence Johnson, Bruce Brown, Matthew Walker, and Gerald Hudson.

Reverend Johnson attended Prentiss Normal and Industrial Institute. He entered the Armed Services in 1942 and served his country as a Military Policeman in World War II.

He was a member of the Hollisday Creek MB Church and later joined St. Paul MB Church where he was a member for 87 years and was the oldest living member of the church.

Reverend Johnson was called to the ministry in 1955. He obtained The Old Testament and New Testament Certificates as well as a Bachelor of Theology degree.

He served as pastor of the following churches: Mt. Beulah, Collins, for 26 years; St. John, Gulfport, for 19 years; New Zion, Oakvale, for 10 years; Pt. Pleasant, Mt. Olive, for 10 years; Mt. Aid, Ellisville, for three years; St. James, Oakvale, for three years; and Mt. Carmel, Prentiss, for 24 years.

Reverend Johnson was a lifetime member of the M.W. King Hiram Grand Lodge of the State of MS where he served as Grand Chaplain for 15 years; Grand Chaplain for the Royal Arch of the M.W. King Hiram Grand Lodge for 12 years; Worthy Patron of the OES #147, Worshipful Master of the Oakvale Lodge #215 and Joshua of Jerico for the Heroines of Louise Court #19.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George Johnson and Molly Williams Johnson; his wife, Annie Mae Graves; four children, Barbara Nell, Marilyn, Buford Earl and Flora Jean; sisters, Alberta Dean, Hester Elee Barnes, Estella Myers and Ora Lee Buford; and brothers, Benjamin Johnson, Samuel Johnson, Esco Johnson, Bill Johnson and Roosevelt Johnson.

Survivors include daughters, Ora Mae Harrell, Dessie Ree Magee(Billy) and Willie Beal; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.