Obituary of Josephine Charlotte Carson

Josephine Charlotte Carson was born on November 21, 1930 in McLean, Virginia, daughter of Josephine Wallace and James Jackson. Josephine Wallace passed away while Josephine was very young, so her aunt, the late Mary E. Carter along with her father helped raise Josephine and her sisters. Josephine was raised in McLean where she dedicated her life to the Lord as a child under the ministry of Shiloh Baptist Church (Ordricks Corner). She loved the Lord with all her heart and faithfully attended and served in the church until her illness prevented her from doing so. Even weeks before her death, she quoted Psalm 23 with her son Charles, Jr. Josephine also served as a switchboard operator at Madeira School, a private all girls school in McLean. In 1968, Josephine met and married the love of her life, Charles L. Carson, Sr. from Ivanhoe, VA. They settled and raised their own family in Reston, VA. From this God-ordained union were birthed two sons, Charles, Jr. and Ivan. Josephine not only was unselfishly committed to her family, but she was a mother to many. She regularly watched neighborhood children in addition to the children of her nieces and other relatives. Children were always naturally drawn to her. Josephine truly enjoyed family and enjoyed people and had an infectious smile on her face at all times. She enjoyed cooking and family road trips. She loved the color purple (the color, not the movie!) and enjoyed going to get her hair done with her sister Thresa Absher. In September of 2002, Josephine was stricken with dementia which led to Alzheimer's disease. Her devoted husband, Charles, Sr, took excellent care of her at home in Reston until the effects of diabetes prevented him from doing so. Josephine departed this life on February 21, 2012 at the Reston Hospital. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, James & Josephine Jackson, her aunt Mary E. Carter, and her sister Doris Lavigne. Josephine leaves to cherish her memories a loving and devoted husband, Charles L. Carson, Sr.; her sons, Charles L. Carson, Jr. and Ivan J. Carson; a daughter-in-law, Christy E. Carson; a granddaughter, Regina E. Carson; a grandson, Charles L. Carson III; a sister ,Thresa Absher; God-daughter Cheryl Taylor; nieces Yvonne Jackson, Jennifer Boston, Laurie Smith; a nephew, James Absher; and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends