Melba Johnston

Melba Lee Clark Johnston was raised in Zachary, Louisiana attending Zachary High School and then moved to Baton Rouge, La in 1953 after marrying her lifelong partner, Francis Sterling Johnston. "MiMi" as she was known to her family peacefully passed away with family by her side at 11:50am on December 15, 2024. She was 92 years old, born February 4, 1932. She attended LSU and loved the Tigers. After her children reached school age, she began teaching at Sacred Heart Kindergarten where she was known to all as "Ms. Mel." She was a neighborhood friend to many in Inniswold and Hickory Ridge subdivisions. In her 40s, she began playing tennis and loved the camaraderie and friendships that she developed through the tennis league She loved gardening and acquired a tremendous knowledge of plants, especially tropical plants that her husband would bring back from Jamaica. But her love of family was foremost. She had a very tender soul and was an outstanding matriarch to all. For her traveling meant visiting different sections of the backyard in watching children’s, grandchildren’s, and great grandchildren’s activities. She is survived her children Dr. F. Allen Johnston, Mark L. Johnston and his wife Terri (Pooky), M. Skye Johnston and her husband Frank Ledoux, and J. Travis Johnston and his wife Barbara; fifteen grandchildren and twenty five great-grandchildren. Melba was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years Francis Sterling Johnston, her mother, Edna Guthrie Clark, her father, Henry Allen Clark, Sr. and her brother Henry Allen Clark, Jr. Visitation will be at Rabenhorst funeral home on Thursday, December 19, 2024 from 9 to 11 AM with Interment to follow at Roselawn Memorial Park on North St., Baton Rouge, LA. The family asks that in lieu of flowers please send prayers.