CAROLYN JOHNSON

JOHNSON Carolyn W. Johnson known as Carrie, died Saturday, May 5, 2018 at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Virginia of complications from lung cancer. Carrie was born April 29, 1941, in Milwaukee, WI, daughter of Carol W. Johnson and J. Cabell Johnson. She graduated from Milwaukee University School in 1959 and from Smith College magna cum laude in 1964. After graduation, she moved to Washington and spent nearly 8 years on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide to liberal Republicans, primarily Sen. Charles McC. Mathias Jr (R Md). Her best achievement there was helping advance the bill that created the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park in 1971. In 1972, Carrie was recruited to join the Washington Post editorial board, where she stayed for 5 years. She wrote on lesser topics and helped write speeches for Katherine Graham. Carrie moved to Arlington in late 1979 and became a Democrat. She served on the Arlington County Planning Commission from 1986-2005, one of the longest periods anyone has served on the commission. Her crowning achievement was the creation of Long Bridge Park, as well as neighborhood conservation for Ft. Meyer Heights, Virginia Square and Four Mile Run Valley. At some point, she stumbled into database management for the Arlington County Democratic Committee (ACDC). She became affectionately known as the List Lady, helping with many local elections and providing post-election analysis to the ACDC. Carrie continued to write freelance articles and papers about current events and history. She was increasingly drawn to Butte and Montana. There was an appeal to the history of Butte, the story of the state, and the lack of humidity in July. She purchased a house there in 2005, and produced several articles about Butte, as well as an outline for a book. Carrie is survived by her brother Robert Johnson and his family. She is remembered by the wide variety of people whose lives she touched. Her memorial will be held at 11am on Saturday, June 2nd at the Unitarian Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd. Arlington, VA 22204. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be sent in Carrie's memory to the Arlington Parks and Recreation Fund of the Arlington Community Foundation at 818 N. Quincy St. Suite 103, Arlington, VA 22203Her memorial will be held at 11am on Saturday, June 2nd at the Unitarian Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd. Arlington, VA 22204. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be sent in Carrie's memory to the Arlington Parks and Recreation Fund of the Arlington Community Foundation at 818 N. Quincy St. Suite 103, Arlington, VA 22203