Bro. J.D. Johnston Athens, Texas Obituary

Bro. J.D. Johnston

Brownsboro - Funeral services for Bro. James Durral (J.D.) Johnston, 96, of Brownsboro are scheduled for 2:00 P.M., Saturday, April 1, 2017 at Leagueville Baptist Church in Brownsboro and will be under the direction of Bro Jerry Locke. Services were entrusted to Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens. Bro. Johnston went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, March 28th, 2017 in Tyler. Bro. Johnston was born on July 30, 1920 in Johnson County, Texas to James Robert and Susie Nati Rhodes Johnston. He married his sweetheart Billie Ruth Self on February 15, 1942 and lived in Fort Worth, Texas. In June of 1940 while hoeing cotton with his father the Lord spoke to him about preaching the gospel. He surrendered to the call in 1948. He attended Worth Bible College. While there he obtained his Bachelors, Masters, and Doctor’s degree in Theology. Bro. Johnston was also instrumental in the founding of the Independent Baptist College and taught classes there for a period of time. He also helped start what we know now as the Independent Baptist Encampment. After pastoring at Friendship Baptist Church for 17 years he took Bible Baptist Church in Grants, New Mexico where he was pastor for a year. He then came to the First Baptist Church in Brownsboro, Texas where he remained for 11 years. The last church he pastored was the Calvary Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, Texas for 9 years. Upon his retirement from pastoring in 1988 he returned to Brownsboro and continued to teach The Trail of Blood in many areas. In 2005, his bride of 63 years went home to be with the Lord. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church in Brownsboro and served faithfully there for many years. He was preceded in death by his parents J.R and Susie Johnston, his wife, Billie Johnston, two brothers, Louie and Harold B. Johnston, daughter, Pamela Kay Johnston Chambers and great grandson Nathan Elliot Conner. The legacy Bro. Johnston leaves are four sons and daughters in law, Ronald Gene and Lois Johnston of Fort Worth, James Randolph and Priscilla Johnston of Granbury, Rodney Durral and Linda Johnston of Garland, Robert Andrew and Louann Johnston of Brownsboro; one daughter and son in law Karen and Steve Conner of Brownsboro; son in law Robert Chambers of Brownsboro; two sisters, LouJean Jones of Sandy, Oregon, Betty June Kearlee of Meridian, Texas; seventeen grandchildren; forty-three great grandchildren and one great great-grandchild. Visitation will be at Leagueville Baptist Church Saturday, April 1, 2017 from 1-1:45 P.M.
July 30, 1920 - March 28, 201707/30/192003/28/2017
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Brownsboro - Funeral services for Bro. James Durral (J.D.) Johnston, 96, of Brownsboro are scheduled for 2:00 P.M., Saturday, April 1, 2017 at Leagueville Baptist Church in Brownsboro and will be under the direction of Bro Jerry Locke. Services were entrusted to Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens. Bro. Johnston went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, March 28th, 2017 in Tyler. Bro. Johnston was born on July 30, 1920 in Johnson County, Texas to James Robert and Susie Nati Rhodes Johnston. He married his sweetheart Billie Ruth Self on February 15, 1942 and lived in Fort Worth, Texas. In June of 1940 while hoeing cotton with his father the Lord spoke to him about preaching the gospel. He surrendered to the call in 1948. He attended Worth Bible College. While there he obtained his Bachelors, Masters, and Doctor’s degree in Theology. Bro. Johnston was also instrumental in the founding of the Independent Baptist College and taught classes there for a period of time. He also helped start what we know now as the Independent Baptist Encampment. After pastoring at Friendship Baptist Church for 17 years he took Bible Baptist Church in Grants, New Mexico where he was pastor for a year. He then came to the First Baptist Church in Brownsboro, Texas where he remained for 11 years. The last church he pastored was the Calvary Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, Texas for 9 years. Upon his retirement from pastoring in 1988 he returned to Brownsboro and continued to teach The Trail of Blood in many areas. In 2005, his bride of 63 years went home to be with the Lord. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church in Brownsboro and served faithfully there for many years. He was preceded in death by his parents J.R and Susie Johnston, his wife, Billie Johnston, two brothers, Louie and Harold B. Johnston, daughter, Pamela Kay Johnston Chambers and great grandson Nathan Elliot Conner. The legacy Bro. Johnston leaves are four sons and daughters in law, Ronald Gene and Lois Johnston of Fort Worth, James Randolph and Priscilla Johnston of Granbury, Rodney Durral and Linda Johnston of Garland, Robert Andrew and Louann Johnston of Brownsboro; one daughter and son in law Karen and Steve Conner of Brownsboro; son in law Robert Chambers of Brownsboro; two sisters, LouJean Jones of Sandy, Oregon, Betty June Kearlee of Meridian, Texas; seventeen grandchildren; forty-three great grandchildren and one great great-grandchild. Visitation will be at Leagueville Baptist Church Saturday, April 1, 2017 from 1-1:45 P.M.

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Events

Apr
01
First Visitation
Saturday, April 01 2017
01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Leagueville Baptist Church
FM 317
BROWNSBORO, TX 75756
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Apr
01
Service
Saturday, April 01 2017
02:00 PM
Leagueville Baptist Church
FM 317
BROWNSBORO, TX 75756
Get Directions
View MapTextEmail