Royce O. "Buzz" Johnson, Jr.

Royce O. "Buzz" Johnson, Jr., 67, of Pine Bluff died Tuesday, September 21, 2010 in Pine Bluff. The Pine Bluff native and member of a longtime Jefferson County family was born December 22, 1942, a son of the late Royce O. and Bettina Martin Johnson. He was reared and received his early education in Pine Bluff, graduating from Pine Bluff High School in 1960. He graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1964. At Tulane he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. After college he entered the United State Army and served in Vietnam. Returning to Pine Bluff he joined his family's business, Martin Machinery Company, working there for many years and becoming the company's president and chief executive officer. He later was an accountant for several area businesses. A lifetime member of Trinity Episcopal Church, he served there as Senior Warden for three different priests. He attended Grace Episcopal Church. He was past chairman of the Pine Bluff Civic Auditorium Complex Commission. He was a member of Pecan Lake Land Company, one of the oldest hunting clubs in Arkansas, and the Sports Car Club of Southeast Arkansas. Survivors include his wife, Karen Killick Johnson, who he married June 11, 1967 in New Orleans; son, Stephen Martin Johnson of Pine Bluff; daughter, Kathryn Johnson Smith and her husband Gary of Atlanta, Georgia; stepmother, Rosalie Richardson Poe of Raleigh, N.C.; sister, Leslie Johnson Alexander and her husband Robert of Aiken, S.C.; stepbrother and stepsister, William Dismukes Poe, Jr. and Jean Poe Martin of Raleigh; grandchildren, Harrison Walker Smith, Grant Hudson Smith; and nephew, Rob Alexander. Services are Friday, 10:30 a.m., September 24, at Trinity Episcopal Church with the Reverend Dr. Walter Van Zandt Windsor and the Reverend Dr. Cheryl Clark officiating. Interment follows in Bellwood Cemetery by Ralph Robinson & Son. The family will be at home, They request memorials take the form of contributions to Grace Episcopal Church or Trinity Episcopal Church. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.