Judge Rickie Allen Johnson, age sixty-five, of Symsonia, Kentucky passed away on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at Baptist Health in Paducah, Kentucky.
Judge Johnson was a lifelong member of the Symsonia United Methodist Church, where he served as chairman of the pastor-parish committee. He graduated from Symsonia High School in 1972, where he was class president. Afterwards, he earned a degree in political science at Western Kentucky University in 1976 while both a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and a pitcher for the Hilltoppers. He continued his education at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he received his law degree. Judge Johnson returned home to the Jackson Purchase to practice law for more than a decade prior to his tenure on the Kentucky Court of Appeals from 1992 through 2006. A prolific writer, Judge Johnson authored the third-most published legal opinions in the history of the Kentucky Court of Appeals. He also served on the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission, the body tasked with ensuring the Commonwealth’s judges uphold all ethical and legal rules.
A lifetime community servant, Judge Johnson was a member of the Paducah Lions Club for thirty-nine years, serving as club president in 1993-94 and as chair of the annual “Telethon of Stars” in 1992. Under his leadership as Telethon chair, the event received the highest amount of contributions in its sixty-three-year history. Last year, the club sponsored him as a Melvin Jones Fellow of Lions Clubs International Foundation in recognition of his humanitarian service. He was chairman of the Four Rivers Behavioral Health Board, a non-profit providing mental health and substance abuse services. A native Graves Countian, Judge Johnson volunteered as the President of the Mayfield-Graves County Junior Chamber (“Jaycees”), a President of the Chamber of Commerce, and a Commissioner of the Graves Growth Alliance. In Symsonia, he served on or chaired innumerable civic boards and organizations, including co-founding the Symsonia Civic Club.
He is survived by his two loving children – daughter, Candace Beth (Andrew) Smith of Lexington; and son, Quentin (Janice Feng) Johnson of Washington, D.C.; brother, Gary (Susie) Johnson of Plano, TX; and brother, Jimmie Don Johnson of Reidland. He is also survived by his niece, Susannah (Chris) Martin of Austin, TX; niece, Bethany (Kyle) Reeder of Mayfield; four great nieces, Phoenix Martin, Bella Reeder, Kyla Reeder, and Lydia Reeder; and a great nephew, Griffin Martin.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Frank and Ida Bethel Johnson, and James and Mary Elder; his parents, Ulus Lee and Anna Pauline (Elder) Johnson; his sister, Paulette Johnson Lyles; sister-in-law, Joyce Susie Johnson; nephew, Garrett Lee Johnson; and nephew, Brandon Reid Lyles.
A visitation will be held on Friday, June 28, 2019 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Byrn Funeral Home, 1020 Paris Road, Mayfield, Kentucky. An additional visitation will be held at First United Methodist Church, 214 S. 8th St., Mayfield, Kentucky from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2019, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 p.m. Rev. Roger Joseph will officiate. Private burial at a later date will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Rick Johnson to Symsonia Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Marsha Hetrick, P.O. Box 52, Symsonia, Kentucky 42082.