Griffin Speaks

MY THOUGHTS ON THE PASSING
OF MRS. JOHNNIE CARR

1911-2008

Hundreds of mourners gathered at the Joe L. Reed Acadome on Saturday, March 1, 2008 to mourn and give thanks to a wonderful woman. A woman many call the “true mother” of the modern day civil rights movement. How can the numbers be explained? I venture to say that they did not appear simply because Mrs. Carr lived nearly a century. Many people today live long lives. It has to do with Mrs. Carr’s giving of herself so readily and so graciously. She cared about everybody. She worked to the end of her life to make this world a better place. 

If there is one verse of scripture that best describes Mrs. Carr, it is perhaps the description of a gracious woman in the last chapter of the book of Proverbs. It reads: “Strength and dignity are her clothing and she laughs at the time to come” 

Mrs. Carr was a woman of great strength. She had the remarkable quality to make everyone feel important. She made people want to do the right thing. She could speak before crowds and keep her virtue. Neither foes nor loving friends could hurt her. All men counted with her, but none too much. She could walk with the high and mighty and not lose the common touch. 

Mrs. Carr met the unpredictable challenges of life head on. She had heartaches and pain, but she had joys and blessings that outweighed the heartaches and pain. We will miss her dearly. 

Several years ago I purchased a new home and decided to erect a “Historical Marker” in my front yard. My friends bent over with laughter. They thought that I had completely lost my mind. A few months after my “Historical Marker” was placed in my front yard I received a call from a neighbor who happened to be one of Mrs. Carr’s church members. She told me that her church wanted to honor Mrs. Carr with a “Historical Marker” but everywhere they turned they were rejected because Mrs. Carr was still living. She asked me how I was able to get them to place a “Historical Marker” in my front yard. I explained to her the process and shared with her the number to the company that erected my marker. A few weeks later a beautiful “Historical Marker” was erected in honor of Mrs. Johnnie Carr in front of her Hall Street home.  

Mrs. Carr had a great old age. She remained young at heart and everyone could sense that. She drove her car almost to the very end. She continued to be active and involved.  

To the Carr family, Debra and I keenly feel your loss. And as you grieve we say to each member of the Carr family you are in our thoughts and cradled in our prayers and those of many more throughout the nation. 

And lastly this: Mrs. Carr a woman of grace: Again we are told in Proverbs when speaking about a gracious woman; “Many have done excellently, but you exceed them all.”

In the words of my dad: “Stay away from the pig ears and fried pork chops.  Eat more fruits and vegetables.”