Ollie Johnson

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30. The path of this life’s journey began when Ollie Johnson was born on January 18, 1914, to the union of Albert and Virsie Bowie Johnson in Reeder, Arkansas. On August 28, 1942, he was inducted into the United States Army. He served as a Private of Company C 1317 Engineers Regiment at Camp Ellis in Illinois. He married the beautiful Arvada Booker in 1981 and to this union no children were born. Ollie and Arvada later moved to Gurdon where he united with the Mt. Canaan Baptist Church family. He was an active member and a member of the choir. He was known around town and the surrounding area as the “shoe man”. By trade he was a skilled shoe repairman who specialized in rebuilding shoes with quality materials and workmanship. He was called from labor to reward on Saturday, March 24, 2012 at the Todar VA Foster Home in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Henry Johnson, one sister Dixie Johnson and his beloved Arvada who made her transition on September 14, 2002. He leaves to cherish his memory a special cousin Mrs. Lucinda Dickens of Gurdon, Arkansas, other cousins, his extended family at Todar and friends. Mr. Johnson will lie in repose on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A service of remembrance will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at the J. L. Williams Memorial Chapel. Rev. Johnny Harris, the pastor of Mt. Canaan Baptist Church will render words of comfort. The committal service and final resting place will be at Shady Grove Cemetery in Beirne, Arkansas. Every body has a pair of shoes That makes anger disappear They turn hate into love Make you brave, not to fear They lead your feet to the homeless So that you can make their day Make the world a nicer place To live in and to stay With them you are not selfish But all you try to do is give Make you realize that life is short So we should all simply live Every one has these shoes No bodies have ever gone So why do some thoughtless people Not put their shoes on?