The late Carrie Mae Johnson, a life-long resident of Choctaw County, Yantley, Alabama, was born to the late James and Iola DeBruce Harrison on May 5, 1928. At an early age she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and joined The Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church where she was a dedicated member until her death. At Pleasant Hill, she served faithfully as Church Superintendent, Sunday School Teacher, Church Secretary, Director of Youth Fellowship, Director of Christian Education and in various music ministries.
Carrie Mae attended the public schools of Choctaw County and was a graduate of Choctaw County Training School in Lisman, Alabama. She then enrolled at Alabama A&M University in Normal, Alabama, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Carrie Mae then attended The University of West Alabama in Livingston, Alabama, where she received a Masters in both Elementary Education and Special Education. She later attended The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where she completed a Masters in Psychometry.
For most of her life, Carrie Mae devoted the skills she attained in working with the Choctaw County School District. During her tenure she served as a teacher and ultimately as an administrator before retiring.
Carrie Mae was extremely active in civic and community affairs which included various entities in Choctaw County politics. She served as Vice Chairman of the Choctaw County Democratic Executive Committee and Chairman of the Department of Human Resources Board. In 2009 she was inducted into the Alabama Hall of Fame at Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama, as a result of her lifelong commitment to philanthropic endeavors.
On Sunday, February 11, 2018, Carrie Mae was called to take her much needed rest. She was preceded in death by her husband: Eddie Johnson; three children: Lincoln Knott, Jr., James A. Johnson and Margaret Ann Knott; and five siblings.
Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her four children: Mary Ann Knott-Easley, Eddie Johnson, Jr., and Victor Johnson all of Yantley, AL and Anthony Steven Johnson of Aurora, CO; nine grandchildren: two that she reared, Byron (Jodi) Knott and John (Renee) Knott both of Aurora, CO; thirteen great grand children; two sisters: Beatrice Pearson of Tuscaloosa, AL and Louise (Charles) Crenshaw of Huntsville, AL; one brother: William (Gladys) Harrison of Montgomery, AL; two sister-in-laws: Vera Harrison of Benson, AZ and Essie Larkin-Harrison of Yantley, AL; and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.