Submitted by Vinita Lynch Shaw, January 24, 2007;  ViniL@aol.com

“From Newspaper in Holmes County, MS, 1860” name of paper unknown
Rufus B. Johnson died at his residence in Holmes County, Mississippi, March 3, 1860, aged 44 years.  The subject of this notice was born in Tennessee.  In early life, he moved to Alabama, thence to Mississippi, in which state, at the age of 21 years, he married the daughter (Elizabeth White) of Reverend  (it says Needy) White, a “father in Israel”, of no little notoriety as a gospel minister in the Baptist Church for a number of years in North Mississippi, who, at a very old age, still lives “to tell the story of the cross”.
Brother Johnson lived in Holmes County and in the community in which he resided there, for about 20 years, most of which time he occupied the position of Deacon in the church, in a way that but gives evidence of the fact that he was deeply sensible of the responsibility that rested upon him.  On the first of May, 1858, he was called upon to mourn the loss of the object of his first love, the partner of his early days, to whom it was said, on account of her Rebecca-like, “it is enough, come up higher”.  On November 23, 1858, after a season of widower-hood and contending with the trials and difficulties incumbent upon the position occupied by a father toward a number of motherless children, he married Minerva Carroll, the daughter of another one of “Zion’s Watchmen”.  Sixteen months elapsed and again the king of terrors demanded a severance of the silken cord that, according to the command of God himself, produces the nearest relationship known to mortals on earth, and in obedience to this stern decree, our brother fell but, as he fell he rose, and he rose triumphantly, for to him death had no terrors, for lo, these many years, he had not been following a cunningly devised fable, but knew for himself, and not for another, in whom he had trusted.
He was a kind husband, an affectionate father, a good citizen and a charitable neighbor.  It was his lot during his hours of sickness to suffer intensely, but not a murmur was heard to pass his lips.  He spoke of his approaching dissolution as he would of an exit, to accomplish some journey of life, giving instructions to his family as he thought best for their future welfare.
He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and was buried by his brethren of that order, with usual ceremonies.
This is the end of life but not of the Christian hope, for in the language of the past, “But all, before they hence remove, may mansions for themselves prepare in that eternal house above and, oh, my God, shall I be there.”