Mary Ann McElroy Johnson

Graveside services for Mrs. Mary Ann McElroy Johnson will begin at 3:00 PM Thursday, November 5, 2026, at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens with Reverend Cory Phillips officiating. Service music will be provided by Mr. Chris Sharp. Interment will follow graveside rites. The Johnson Family will receive guests from 1:30 PM until 2:30 PM at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home prior to departure to the cemetery. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.

Mary Ann McElroy Johnson, 93, passed away on Saturday, October 31st at Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center.

A Mississippi native, Ann attended Millsaps College before graduating from Mississippi State University in 1954, with a degree in Education. Ann worked with the Mississippi Department of Human Services, where she witnessed the impact of education in Mississippi households. She later joined the Lauderdale County School System, teaching over 20 years before retiring.

During retirement, Ann spent her time supporting her family, gardening, daily crossword puzzles, cooking and reading. Some of her favorite times were singing in the family trio with her mother and sister and daughter, Janis. She and husband, John A. Johnson, shared a deep love of travel but her favorite place was always home. She lived in 15 different locations, but she had the gift of making each place home for her family.

Ann is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, John A. Johnson, Jr., parents, Ransom and Alayne McElroy, brothers James McElroy and Bobby McElroy. She is survived by her sister, Betty Hopper of Porterville, Mississippi. Surviving children include Ava Barr (David) of Meridian, Mississippi, and Janis Johnson (Susan Rosenberg) of Sacramento, California. She leaves two grandchildren, Allison Deming (Brian), and John David Barr (Jenni). Great-grandchildren include Adeline Deming, Henry Deming, Meryl Barr, and Sybil Barr.

The family of Ann would like to thank the nurses, doctors, and staff of Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center, Aldersgate Retirement Community, and North Pointe Health and Rehab for their care and support. The love and care of her Covenant Church family and special friends Helen Dawkins, Anne Dowdle, Charles Harper and Odis Howze were a comfort to her.

The family requests memorials be made to the John A. Johnson and Ann Johnson Scholarship Fund at the MCC Foundation, 910 Hwy. 19 North, Meridian, MS, 39307 or Covenant Church, 4223 Poplar Springs Drive, Meridian, MS 39305.