Remembering ‘Miss Carrie,' by David Nolan (SAR)

I agree with St. Augustine civil rights historian David Nolan. Renaming a street in Lincolnville would be a great way to commemorate the late Carrie Johnson.



Remembering ‘Miss Carrie’

Posted at 3:15 PM
November 26, 2019
St. Augustine Record
EDITOR: Nov. 27 is the first anniversary of the death, at 83, of our beloved Carrie Johnson, “The Voice of Lincolnville.”

For the last quarter century of her life, she brightened the days of countless St. Augustinians— black and white alike — as she pedaled the three-wheeled vehicle she alternately called her Rolls Royce or her Lamborghini, greeting all with a wave and a hearty “Hi, darling!” on our downtown streets.

She organized annual Christmas caroling, started a foundation to aid homeless students, served as vice president of the Fort Mose Historical Society and was a founder of ACCORD (which gave us Florida’s first civil rights museum, and a permanently marked Freedom Trail of historic sites).

She was an Olympic torchbearer, a lighter of our famous Christmas light, and a devoted member of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Society. She did laundry at St. Francis House, led the St. Patrick’s Day parade, and lent her outstanding voice to countless civic celebrations. She was truly one of the people who put the “Saint” in St. Augustine.

We were lucky to have her, and she should not be forgotten. She radiated a goodwill that encouraged all of us to do better.

Bravo Street is a small lane — just two blocks long —on the western edge of Lincolnville. Along it, Carrie lived her youngest days in an old family homestead that is now demolished. She spent her last Lincolnville years practically in the backyard of that original home, until the floodwaters of Hurricane Matthew displaced her and forced the Voice of Lincolnville to spend her final days in St. Augustine Shores.

The naming of streets is one way we have of honoring those who have made contributions to the Ancient City. Wouldn’t it be appropriate to rename Bravo Street (which, in fact, duplicates the name of another street near the bayfront) as “Carrie Johnson Way” to celebrate one who did so much to make St. Augustine a better place?

Do we have a City Commission that will make this a reality in the joyous spirit of the Christmas season?

David Nolan, St. Augustine

Editor’s note: Well said, David. Or maybe “Hi Darlin’ Drive?”