Feb. 7, 1937 – July 11, 2011

FERRIDAY — Services for “Sensei” Morris Johnson, 74, a lifelong resident of Ferriday, who died Monday, July 11, 2011, at St. Francis Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, La., will be at 10 a.m. today at Young’s Funeral Home with the Rev. Jerry Sharp officiating.

Burial will follow at Rogers Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home in Ferriday.

Mr. Johnson was born Feb. 7, 1937, in Ferriday, the son of William Wesley Johnson and Grace Lillian Johnson. He attended Hill Memorial Baptist Church. He was retired from International Paper Company.

For the past 20 years, he served as “Sensei” for Natchez Isshinryu Karate Isshin Kai Organization where he attained the rank of fourth degree black belt.

He also proudly served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Frances Johnson of Ferriday; two sons, Dean Johnson and wife, Milu, of Brandon, Fla., and Jeff Johnson of Ridgecrest; three grandsons, Christopher Johnson, Gregory Johnson and Nathan Johnson; and three sister, Tolice Hodges, Judy Early and Rosemary Clark.

Pallbearers will be Bill Beasley, Bobbie Cowan, Doug Brown, Harvey Lee Cowan, Lamar Goodfellow and Mike Jones.

Online condolences may be sent to www.youngsfh.com.