Joise Johnson

On November 5, 2025, at the age of 72, Heaven gained an angel. Joise Ann Johnson was born on June 13, 1953, to Charles Mason Anderson and Lillie B. House in Gurdon, Arkansas.

Joise graduated from Gurdon High School in 1970. She was the devoted mother of three children: Patrick, Donna, and Willie. Determined to provide a better life for her children, she returned to school to become a cosmetologist. Upon graduation, she opened J’s Unique Salon, where she was known as the queen of marcel irons and French rolls.

Later, she became a bus driver for Gurdon Public Schools, a role she faithfully served in for 19 and a half years. She was affectionately known as the “No-Nonsense Bus Driver.” After retiring from her salon work, she became a loyal employee of the Arkadelphia Human Development Center in Caddo Valley, where she worked until her health began to fail.

Joise joined Eastern Star Baptist Church at an early age, where she served as an usher and later as president of the Kitchen Committee, following in the footsteps of her late aunt, Bertha Mae Anderson. She took great pride in keeping her yard manicured and was an avid bird watcher who enjoyed spending quiet moments observing nature from her chair.

She was a sports fan who loved supporting her sisters, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Joise did not discriminate when it came to cheering—or correcting—she would let you know if you were messing up, whether you were a coach, player, or referee.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Mason Anderson and Lillie B. Anderson; her elder sister, Lillie Pearl Jackson; brother, Larry Don Anderson; and sons, Patrick Anderson and Willie Dwight Giles.

She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Donna Giles; grandchildren: Rayvn (Matt) McDaniel, Braylon (Alexis) Samuels, Jaylon Anderson, Bryan Samuels, and Faith Anderson. The apples of her eye—her great-grandchildren—include Serenity, Braxton, Brylon, Choyce, Saylor, Kavien, and Bryce. Her siblings: Christine Anderson, Charles Freeman Anderson, Margaret Andrews, Toni (Henry) Green, Edna Cooper, Ella Williams, and Walter Brown. She is also survived by her only uncle, Roosevelt (Wilma) House, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Active pallbearers will be Emmanuel Jackson, Joshua Jackson, Jerome Brown, Rodney Green, Adam Cooper, and Bryson Andrews. Honorary pallbearers will be Walter Brown, Charles F. Anderson, Braylon Samuels, Jaylon Anderson, O’Dray Anderson, and Christian Williams.

Submitted by the Johnson Family