Emily Lois Carnes

1954 - 2024

Emily Lois Carnes passed away peacefully at the home of her brother, Nathan, in Washington, DC, on January 8, 2024, of colon cancer.
Emily was born in Franklin, Virginia on January 25, 1954, and moved with her family to Chapel Hill, NC in 1956.
Emily attended Chapel Hill/Carrboro schools, the NC School of the Arts where she studied flute. At the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA she continued her flute studies, met and "jammed" with many jazz musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Benny Maupin. She encountered and converted to Buddhism during her time in Boston. Emily then returned to North Carolina to complete her undergraduate degree at NC State University in Computer Science.
Emily worked as a computer programmer in Raleigh, eventually moving to the Washington DC area where she worked and volunteered for a number of organizations, including as a secretary for George Washington University and the Cattlemen's Association, and as the manager of a MOM's cooperative grocery store.
At a luncheon on Saturday, June 4, 2005, at Jury's Hotel (now Dupont Circle Hotel) on New Hampshire Avenue NW in Washington, DC, Emily was presented with the "Evelyn Falkowski Award" by the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA).
Evelyn Falkowski was the first Executive Director of UNA-NCA. The Evelyn Falkowski Award is the highest honor given each year by the UNA-NCA to one of its members, and recognizes outstanding volunteer service.
While living in the greater Washington, DC area, she participated regularly with the Soka Gakkai International (SGI)-USA DC Buddhist Center.
Emily joined the Lion's Club International in Arlington, VA, and met a fellow Lion, Charles Wright Fields, Jr. (Chuck). They became a couple in the early 2000s, and married on November 28, 2017, in Arlington, VA. Emily and Chuck ran Chuck's plumbing company from January 2005 until Chuck's death on June 3, 2021, after which Emily continued to run a plumbing business as Monroe Pike LLC.
During her charity work with the Lions Club of Virginia, she served as District Governor (District 24-A), worked with the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center of NOVA and was an avid Pin Trader at any and all Lions events she attended. For over a decade, Emily and Chuck ran the annual Christmas Tree lot to benefit the Lions Club. Emily was also a staunch supporter of the Arlington Better Sports Club, a youth sports league, having served as President and on the Board, as well.
Emily is survived by her sister Deborah Carnes Christie (George); three brothers: Larry Carnes, Timothy Carnes (Elizabeth) and Nathan Carnes (Kelly); and nine nieces and nephews: Rebecca Christie, Nicholas Christie, Drew Carnes, Seth Carnes, Marie-Christine Carnes, Eldon Carnes, Philip Carnes, Jason Carnes and Haley Carnes. Numerous great nieces and nephews and too many friends to count.
Condolences may be sent to Nathan Carnes, 3547 Chesapeake Street NW, Washington, DC 20008-2958.
A Buddhist memorial service will be held at the SGI USA Buddhist Life Center, 3417 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 17, 2024. Followed by a visitation with family and friends. There will be an additional celebration in Chapel Hill, North Carolina at a later date.