MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Carl E. Johnson Sr., a former Memphis City School Board member, has died at the age of 88, his family announced in a press release Wednesday morning.
The National School Board Association recognized Johnson as the longest elected school board official in the country.
Born in Memphis on Oct. 2, 1935, he served the Memphis City School Board for 35 years after getting elected in 1972. Johnson was also a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Landmarks Commissioner and the Memphis Heritage Foundation, as well as the Metropolitan Baptist Church and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Johnson earned his master's in education from Memphis State University, conducting additional studies at the Brooking Institute in Washington, D. C. and the U. S. 4th Army Medical Laboratory. He worked at Carver High School and Southwestern College of Memphis (now Rhodes College). He also served as instructional developer and director of government relations at Shelby State Community College (currently Southwest Community College) from 1979 to 1991.
Services for Johnson will be held Saturday, Jan. 6, at Metropolitan Baptist Church on 767 Walker Ave. Visitation is from 10 a.m. to noon. Alpha Phi Alpha’s Omega ceremony will be from 12 -12:15 p.m. and funeral services will begin at 12:30 p.m.