October 3, Dustin Johnson, Mississippi State University senior geosciences major, died of a gun-related incident in Starkville.
Sid Salter, director of University Relations, said anytime MSU loses a student, the university is affected and diminished.
“We extend the deepest sympathy of the university to the young man’s family and friends,” he said.
A memorial service for Johnson will be held at Cleary Baptist Church Saturday from 4-6 p.m. in Florence, Miss. The service will be informal, and people can come and go as they please.
Friends said Johnson, a Florence, Miss., native, was one class away from graduation. 
Regan Byrd, junior geosciences major and friend, said Johnson was a man of few words. 
“But whatever he said was pretty hilarious,” Byrd said.
Other friends described Johnson as laid back and a great photo-bomber.
Ramsey Rankin, junior geosciences major, said Johnson was the kind of person who sat back and laughed and did not want to be the center of attention.
“He was always in a good mood, like he was never mean,” Rankin said. “He laughed at everything everyone else said. Sometimes he would make comments that were really funny.”
Rankin said she met Johnson during a high school prom.
“He was just cracking jokes the whole time,” Rankin said. “His girlfriend at that time was whining a lot, and he said, ‘I’m going to start calling you chardonnay because you wine so much.’ He had a really funny sense of humor like that.”
Byrd said Johnson and Drew Sills, senior geosciences major, were inseparable.
“They were always together,” Byrd said. 
Casey Reddoch, senior forestry and wildlife management major, said Johnson was a car enthusiast and never missed the Cruisin’ on the Coast car show on the Gulf Coast. Byrd said this year’s show is this weekend. 
“He could tell you an engine by just hearing it,” Byrd said.
Zac Rodger, senior marketing major, said Johnson was working on rebuilding a motorcycle.
“He bought a motorcycle this summer and got it running, but something else happened. He was slowly working on that,” Rodgers said.
Johnson was also a member of the Famous Maroon Band during his freshman and sophomore years.
Reddoch said Johnson liked music and playing his saxophone.
Byrd said Johnson could also play the guitar. And like other college students, he enjoyed Netflix.
Byrd said Johnson’s favorite show was “Trailer Park Boys.”
Rodger said his favorite memory with Johnson was a weekend camping and hiking trip with friends in the Sipsey Wilderness Park in Alabama.
“We were there from Friday to Sunday, and we hiked 12 miles that Sunday,” Rodger said. 
Johnson’s friends remembered stories that brought smiles to their faces.
“One time at the Pointe, Johnson smoked out Arnett Moultrie (former MSU basketball player),” Rodgers said. “He was always thinking Arnett Moultrie hated Drew because he did that to him.”
Reddoch said Johnson was a dedicated MSU sports fans as well.
“We always had fun going to football games,” Reddoch said
Rodger said Johnson never missed a game.
Johnson’s friends said Johnson would do anything for people.
“He would give the shirt off his back,” Reddoch said.
In lieu of flowers, Johnson’s family asks for donations to the Mississippi Geological Society.
 

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Regan Byrd | Courtesy Photo

Friends said their memories of Dustin Johnson, MSU senior, are filled with laughter and joke-telling.