JAMES JOHNSON

PARMA -- James Edward Johnson, 57, of Parma died Monday, Dec. 30, 1996, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis.

He was born Nov. 20, 1939, at Bernie, son of Roosevelt and Lillie Mae Porter Johnson. He and Bertha Mae Phiffer were married Sept. 26, 1992, at Gray Ridge.

Johnson was a farmer until retiring because of ill health. He was a member and chief usher at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Gray Ridge.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, James and Kevin Taylor of Malden, Earnest Taylor of Parma; a daughter, Shirley Ayers of Elkhart, Ind.; his mother of Parma; four stepsons, Russell Phiffer of Fayette, Charles Taylor of Fulton, Troy Taylor of Memphis, Tenn., Jerome Taylor of Parma; seven stepdaughters, Doris Austin of Florida, Ida Burelle of Booneville, Detra Phiffer of Columbia, Rita Taylor of Sikeston, Dorothy and Jeanette Taylor of Parma, and Florene Oliver of St. Joseph.

Other survivors include three brothers, Roosevelt Johnson of Lilbourn, Earnest Johnson of Chicago, Robert Johnson of Malden; five sisters, Bessie Carrigan of Nashville, Ark., Hazel Combs, Alice Johnson and Sandra Armstead of Parma, Willa Clark of Portageville; nine grandchildren; and numerous stepgrandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter.

Friends may call at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter after 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Funeral service will be at the funeral home at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, with the Rev. LeRoy Williams officiating. Burial will be in Macedonia Cemetery at Malden.