Biography:

James “Jim” Edwin Johnson III, 56, of Little Rock, died with family by his side on February 10, 2025, following a nine month battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. His loved ones will be forever grateful for the extra time together that his courageous fight afforded them.

Jim was born in Augusta, GA to Nancy B. Johnson and James E. Johnson, Jr. He grew up in a loving family that included two older sisters, Anne Benton and Jane, who he adored. At an early age, Jim was introduced to the game of golf by his father and developed a lifelong passion for the sport.

When Jim was 11, his family moved to Charlotte, NC. There he continued to play and excel at golf, winning many junior and amateur tournaments. He graduated from Charlotte Country Day School and led their golf team to four straight state championships during his high school years, winning the individual title his senior year.

Jim received a golf scholarship to Wake Forest University where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and graduated with a BA in Business. It was there that he met the love of his life, Suzanne, his wife of 30 years.

Jim and Suzanne married in 1995. After earning his MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, Jim was excited to accept an investment banking position with Stephens Inc. So in the summer of 1997, the young couple moved to Little Rock, AR. Within a week of their move, a neighbor invited Jim and Suzanne to a supper club they were hosting, and from then Little Rock quickly became their home. Jim felt it was a wonderful place to have lived and raise his family.

Jim enjoyed working at Stephens Inc. and his colleagues there. He was with the firm for 28 years, serving the last 10 years as Chief Administrative Officer of Investment Banking and as Director of Stephens Europe Ltd.

Jim lived his life with honor and integrity. He had a quick wit, was kind and deeply loved. Jim was the happiest spending time with his family and was so very proud of his two children, Caroline and Jed.

Golf remained a passion for Jim until the end. The game was very good to Jim, teaching him many life lessons and enabling him to meet thousands of fellow golfers through the years. Many of his best friends were frequent playing partners and playing rounds with his local golf buddies and friends from all over brought him great joy. His all-time favorite playing partners, however, were his father, Jay, and son, Jed.

Jim was a member of Second Presbyterian Church. At the time of his diagnosis, Jim was a member and Board of Director of Fifty for the Future and was serving his second term on the Board of Governors of the Country Club of Little Rock.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents. Jim is survived by his wife Suzanne Twardeck Johnson, daughter Caroline Beck Johnson and son James Edwin “Jed” Johnson IV all of Little Rock; sisters Anne Hitch (Jim) of North Myrtle Beach, SC and Jane White (Dunlop) of Winston-Salem, NC; mother and father-in-law Sandy and Tom Twardeck and brother-in-law Tim Twardeck all of Scottsdale, AZ; nieces Nancy Walker White, McCray White and Taryn Twardeck; nephew William Twardeck; several aunts and many cousins.

The family expresses sincere gratitude to the teams at MD Anderson, CHI St. Vincent Infirmary, and UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute who cared for Jim, and extends heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Dean Kumpuris and the Stephens Family.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, February 17, at Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. The service will be live streamed at www.secondpreslr.org. The family will receive friends in The Great Hall following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, CHI St. Vincent Foundation, or UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com