Lawmakers pay tribute to two late members

State lawmakers paused Monday night to remember Reps. Linda Johnson and MaryAnn Black, two colleagues who passed away earlier this year.

Posted 1:12 a.m. Jun 23, 2020 — Updated 1:32 a.m. Jun 23, 2020

Laura Leslie

, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

RALEIGH, N.C. — State lawmakers paused Monday night to remember Reps. Linda Johnson, R-Cabarrus, and MaryAnn Black, D-Durham, two colleagues who passed away earlier this year.

Black, a longtime civic leader and former chair of the Durham County Board of Commissioners, was appointed to the House in 2017. She passed away in March after a battle with cancer.

Members on both sides of the aisle recalled Black's kind, collegial spirit, her award-winning career in social work and her deep knowledge of the workings of government.

"She was what I call a sleeper cell," said former seatmate Rep. Chaz Beasley, D-Mecklenburg. "She had done every possible thing in government before she got here."

Rep. Graig Meyer, D-Orange, a fellow social worker, said sometimes during debate in caucus or on the floor, Black would jokingly text him a number reference to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

“She was diagnosing y’all on the job,” Meyer said.

Johnson passed away in February, also from cancer. She had served 20 years in the House, rising to become one of the state's top experts on education policy and funding. She worked across the aisle under leaders of both parties, serving, as Rep. Marvin Lucas, D-Cumberland, said, "the consummate fixer. She worked for the good of this state."

Johnson was recalled fondly as a tough House negotiator against the Senate for many years. Many talked about her rhinestone tiara and red high heels that she would don as those talks bogged down and her frustration rose.

"That meant, 'Don’t mess with me,'" Rep. Pat McElraft, R-Carteret, recalled. "There’s probably some red-shoe wearing and tiara wearing in heaven right now."

"Linda Johnson was a legislator’s legislator. She cared deeply about the people she represented," said Rep. David Lewis, R-Harnett.

Lewis recalled Johnson's parting words as she headed to Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger's office one day, wearing her heels and tiara: "Somebody's going to have to lick the spoon because they're stirring the pot again."

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