Dr. Carol Ann Johnson was born on January 10, 1949, to Floyd LaVanza and Gradie Bell Johnson in St. George, South Carolina. She is the fourth of five children. She was raised in a loving home.

Carol's parents were married 59 ½ years. She grew up in church and was grounded in strict Christian values. She attended Brown's Chapel Fire Baptized Holiness Church with her parents and siblings.

At a young age, under the guidance of her mother, Carol took an interest in cooking, canning, sewing and decorating. This led to her participation in 4-H and eventually a career in home economics. Having mentors along the way, Carol was prepared to server her community and improve the lives of others from a young age.

Carol received her primary and secondary education in the Dorchester County Public School System. She graduated from Williams Memorial High School in 1967. After high school, she matriculated at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, 1971, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics with a concentration in Food and Nutrition along with a minor in Chemistry.

She received the American Dietetic Association Certification from Tuskegee University Dietetic Internship in 1974. In 1992, she was a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Fellow in Washington, DC.

She furthered her education by earning a Master of Science in Institutional Management in Dietetics with a minor in Business Administration from Kansas State University in 1976. Moreover, in 1983, she earned her doctorate from Florida State University in Home Economics Education with a minor in Administration in Higher Education.

Carol's commitment to education coupled with her passion for people allowed her to be a public servant for more than 30 years. Her career was full of opportunities to help people from diverse backgrounds improve their lives.

During her career, she worked as a dietitian in New Jersey and Kansas. She also worked as an Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) County Extension Agent in South Carolina for Clemson University and dietitian for the USDA Food and Nutrition Services in Washington, DC.

Her employment also included an Assistant Professor of Food and Nutrition at South Carolina State University for six years.

After serving in those roles, Carol felt a calling to the field of higher education. In 1987, she applied for Fort Valley State University as a Cooperative Extension Program Leader for Family and Consumer Sciences. She described this role as a "perfect fit". Carol served at FVSU for 22 years. During her tenure at the university, she designed programs and curricula in teenage pregnancy prevention, college readiness and career preparedness, food safety and nutrition and other facets of family and consumer sciences.

Before retiring, Carol was Associate Professor and Associate Dean/Extension Administrator for two and one-half years for Fort Valley State University, University's College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology. Johnson remained teachable as she grew and learned in all positions. She taught, wrote, presided, mentored, advised, traveled and more. She was an administrator, manager and supervisor.

She lived by the motto of "helping people, help themselves". After 22 years, she retired from FVSU in 2009. In her retirement, she joined Southside Baptist Church in Warner Robbins, Georgia where she volunteered as a door greeter. She also enjoyed working with potted plants, creating arts and crafts for her home and spending time with her family, including siblings, nieces and nephews.

Out of all her accomplishments, she said her greatest accomplishment is when she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Her favorite Bible verse is Romans 5:1 which states,

"Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

She received water baptism at Walterboro Christian Center in South Carolina and she was baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Carol believed she lived a good full life and believed she was devoted and committed to her life's purpose.

"I'd like to be remembered for my integrity, my humanity for caring for people.

I'd like to be remembered for doing a good job, and doing the best I could" Carol said.

Carol is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents and brother, Benjamin Robert Johnson transitioned October 17, 2025.

Carol's loyal and devoted family members include her brother, James Rufus Johnson (Emma) of Laurel, Maryland. Her sisters, Florese Marie Pelzer of Douglasville, Georgia, Judy Bell Williams (John Frank) of Lexington, South Carolina and sister-in-law, Evangeline Hill-Johnson (Benjamin Robert Johnson) Bremerton, Washington.

She was an aunt to a host of nieces and nephews to include Aaron and wife Dwanna; Darius and wife, Angela; Shawn and wife Angelica, Terrance, Benjamin Timothy, Reginald and John Ross. In addition, she is an aunt to her nieces, Valencia, Kia and Larjonar. She also had the blessing of being a great aunt to Evan, Christopher, Benjamin Charles, Sherina, Aryne, Jada, Malia, Lynae, Alanna and James, three great grand nieces, numerous cousins and friends.