of Little Rock, AR

December 18, 1938 - July 4, 2025

Julia Ellen Rodgers Johnson, age 86, of Little Rock passed away peacefully on Friday, July 4, 2025, at her home in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was born December 18, 1938 to C.W. Rodgers, Sr. and Edna Saylor Rodgers in Plain Dealing, Louisiana. She married Bobby Ray Johnson in Cullen, Louisiana on December 24, 1955.

She grew up in the East Road community of Cullen and remained life-long friends with so many of the ''East Road Kids''. She was a homemaker and began a career in the 1960's, working at an Army ammunition plant and then became an administrative assistant at the Springhill Bank. She and Bobby raised their family in Springhill, Louisiana. In 1978, they moved to McGehee, Arkansas where she worked at the local hospital as an Assistant Administrator and began taking night classes at UA Monticello. She fell in love with the academic life and enjoyed her chance to get a degree while Bobby supported her efforts with pride. After graduating with a Bachelors in Accounting in 1988, she spent 13 years traveling the state as well as the country as a Federal Bank Examiner, an occupation her children found quite amusing as they remembered the weeks growing up when the examiners came to town! She was involved with the Business and Professional Women's Club for many years, serving in leadership roles and sitting on statewide committees in Louisiana and Arkansas. She enjoyed her career very much but chose to join Bobby in retirement in 2002. They built a home to retire to in Little Rock where they were able to entertain grands and great-grands, a passion they always enjoyed, as did their children! They spent time traveling the US as motor tourists and would hit the road for a month or more at a time. She was proud to have visited all 50 States in her lifetime.

Another passion was serving her church family in many ways, including learning how to play piano at age 13 to serve as pianist, a role she filled for over 40 years. She served on many committees, teaching Sunday School, working VBS sessions and serving with the Women's ministries in many roles. Ellen always had an elderly lady or couple she would serve by helping them negotiate their years, right up to the time it was her turn to be cared for.

She is survived by her three children, Chuck Johnson (Cathy) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, son, Wally Johnson (Kim) of Little Rock, and daughter, Bobbye Kaye Buford (Alan) of Heber Springs; a devoted sister, Martha Rodgers Gonzales, her roommate and caregiver for the last four years in Little Rock, Arkansas, and a brother, Roy Rodgers of Argyle, Texas. She has one surviving sister-in-law Susie Bolin of Crossett, AR.

She was E or E Maw to six grandchildren, Sherry and Sean Johnson, Casey and Drew Buford, and Shelby and Rose Johnson; five great-grandchildren, Gage and Avery Buford, Jordanna Buford, and Katelyn and Justin Potts; and one great-great grandchild, Kysen Collier; as well as to her beloved youngest niece Julie Phelps, who had a name and a soul she loved immensely. She always lit up at the thought of her many nieces and nephews whom she loved deeply.

An informal Memorial Service is planned for Saturday, July 19, at 10:00 a.m. in the outdoor pavilion at Henderson United Methodist Church. Interment will be at a later date at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in a shared vault with Bobby. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be sent to Henderson United Methodist Church, 13000 W. Baseline Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72210.

Sign Guestbook

1 Condolence(s)