Riding in the Wind

Famous as the cradle of the blues, the Mississippi Delta is also home to a feared prison called Parchman. From this plantation prison came bluesmen like "Bukka" White. But Parchman also produced some of the nation's most feared inmate bosses; men that ruled the grounds with fast hands and fierce determination. One such boss was Chester Johnston.

Chester came from a dysfunctional family and served in Vietnam, before rising through the biker gang ranks, to finally end up running Parchman. But after fighting his way to the undisputed position of "shot caller" of the farm population, his "rep" and hatred of officials and guards eventually caught up to him.

Nearly beaten to death, Chester began reflecting on the God his grandmother had once taught him about. His journey to true freedom began with the Bible, then surrender, and later through sharing the peace he found with young people.

Although convicted of crimes he denied to his death, Chester fought the system for a release that never came. Riding in the Wind is not just his story; it's a look inside one of our nation's most feared institutions. The book's greatest revelation is how God changed Chester Johnston, granting him the freedom the system never would.


Chaplain Roger Burdge was formerly a Clinical Chaplain at Parchman, where he met Chester Johnston while working in the drug recovery unit. Having left prison service behind, the author is now the director of a community corporation. When he is not working or writing he enjoys genealogy, researching the history of his local Alabama county, and spoiling his grandchildren.

Publisher's website: http://sbpra.com/RogerBurdge