Mark Whitman Johnson, 75, of Little Rock, Arkansas died on August 4, 2024.  He was born on January 24, 1949 in Holly Grove, Arkansas to Dimple Etheridge Johnson and Hubert Riner Johnson.  His father, Hubert died a week after Mark was born.  His mother remarried Jewel Elliotte Clark, Jr. in 1952 who was a loving father to Mark and his older brother Neal.  The family moved to Forest Hill, Tennessee where Mark's younger sister Carol was born.  Mark graduated from Germantown High School in 1967.

Mark was an artist at his core.  He was a self-taught but talented painter drawing inspiration from the Mississippi Delta of his youth.  Art was how Mark related to the world.  When he couldn't paint, he talked about painting.  He continued to fill up the pages of his sketch book even during his prolonged hospital stay and could be found talking about the paintings hanging in the hallways outside of his room.  Mark was also an accomplished actor.  Over the course of three decades, Mark appeared in stage productions throughout the region.  He eventually found a home at Arkansas Rep where he appeared in over 2 dozen productions.  Mark also appeared in many films including A Time to Kill, The Firm, The People v. Larry Flint, October Sky, Great Balls of Fire, and The Peacemaker.

It was at Arkansas Rep that Mark met his beloved wife Kathy.  Mark and Kathy married in 1996 and were the proud and loving parents of Gabriel who entered their lives in December of 2000.

Mark is survived by his son, Gabriel Francisco Johnson, his sister Carol Morton, his brother Neal Johnson (Kay) and several nieces and nephews.

Mark was predeceased by his parents, Dimple Etheridge Johnson, Hubert Riner Johnson and Jewel Elliotte Clark, Jr., his brother-in-law Chris Morton and his dear wife Kathy Celeste Gray.

A memorial service will be held on Monday August 26, 2024 at 11:00 at Christ Episcopal Church, 509 Scott Street, Little Rock AR.