Miss Carrie Johnson, all decked out in her Christmas outfit, leads the 19th annual Christmas caroling in Lincolnville on Monday, Dec. 22 from her daughter’s car. A red train followed with carolers.
Story and photos by Renee Unsworth
The Christmas spirit is alive and well in Lincolnville. Miss Carrie Johnson was giving instructions on Monday night (Dec. 22) for the route of the 19th annual Christmas caroling event … First stop at Buckingham Smith nursing home, then St. Joseph’s convent, and last stop at BayView, where she will stay to continue her rehabilitation. Miss Carrie, the face and voice of Lincolnville, recently had her left leg amputated due to health complications. Miss Carrie is known for riding her adult-sized tricycle around the roads of Lincolnville in downtown St. Augustine — waving at and greeting residents and visitors of the Ancient City.
On Monday, her daughter June was driving Miss Carrie in a car, with the Red Train filled with carolers following. The group gathered at 5 p.m. at the Willie Galimore Center in Lincolnville, then left around 5:20 for the caroling. Each caroler held red programs filled with pages that had the words to the songs they would sing at each location. The front cover reads: “Christmas and Holiday Caroling” at the top and “Please return to Carrie Johnson and Friends” at the bottom. The same programs are used each and every year.
Miss Carrie also is known for giving back, especially to the homeless. Her Miss Carrie Foundation is a nonprofit that collects funds for homeless children in St. Johns County. Gift cards and foundation contributions can be sent to St. Francis House, 70 Washington St., St. Augustine, Fla. 32084. Contribution checks should be made out to St. Francis House with Miss Carrie Foundation specified in the memo.
Carolers wave from the trolley on Monday, Dec. 22 at the Willie Galimore Center.
