Stephen Alan Johnson

If you knew Steve, you know how much he loved Fleetwood Mac, and you’ll probably never listen to “Landslide” the same after knowing him. Friends and family will always remember his fondness for the hits of the ‘60s and ‘70s and cherish the memories of Steve forever attached to his favorite songs.

The last season of Stephen Johnson’s life on this earth came to a close on October 1, 2020. In addition to the selfless nurses and caretakers who cared for him at The Glenmary at Evergreen in Memphis, Tennessee, his memory will be carried on by his two daughters, Rachel Johnson and Stephenie Johnson, and Stephenie’s husband, Zachary Drehoff; the mother of his daughters, Nori Rodriguez Pigue and her mother, Lydia Rodriguez; his sister, Georga Field, her two sons, Mike Field and Jeff Field, and Jeff’s children; and his best friend, Jim Eubanks, who he loved as a brother. His passing is preceded by his parents, Homer Austin Johnson and Luella Alma Cameron Johnson, and his friend Joe Brooks.

Steve was born in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, where he graduated from high school with honors. As a member of the choir and “The Ridge Ramblers,” Steve was known to serenade the girls at Walnut Ridge High and even impersonate Elvis, ever the charmer and entertainer. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education with a minor in Mathematics from Arkansas State University, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. At 6’2,’’ Steve enjoyed basketball, water skiing, swimming, bowling, and shooting billiards. After moving to Memphis in the ‘70s, Steve sold upscale clothing and suits to the Memphis elite, and he even met a few movie stars along the way. In his heyday, you could find him donning a gold chain, his tiger-eye ring, and a bold hat at Huey’s, Zinnie’s, or The Peabody. Steve spent most of his career in finance, working for Ford Motor Credit Company. A mathematician at heart, he would later teach his daughters the importance of balancing a checkbook and using exact change whenever possible. He loved taking his girls to Destin, Florida and Hardy, Arkansas in the summer.

Born later in his life, his daughters were the center of his universe. Stephenie recalls driving down Bragg Lane in their Bartlett neighborhood, during which Steve would take the opportunity to spout off as many “brags” about her as he could before he turned onto the next street, and Rachel has fond memories of riding around that same neighborhood to catch the spectacle of Christmas lights. Steve taught Rachel how to play pool as soon as she could get her arms over the pool table, and he undoubtedly passed down his wit and sense of style down to her. Rachel has Steve’s smile, Stephenie has his mother’s eyes, and they both inherited his love of music.

Steve embodied a larger than life personality, leaving an impact on anyone he came across. There was no escaping Steve’s orbit. And although his spirit has been liberated from this world, those who he left behind will continue their journey around the sun having absorbed his light and love.

“For you, there'll be no more crying. For you, the sun will be shining.… Now, the songbirds are singing, like they know the score. And I love you, I love you, I love you, like never before.”

In Stephen Johnson’s memory, donations can be made to: Mid-South Peace & Justice Center; the Shelby Farms Adopt A Tree program; or Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA).