One of the chief budget writers in the North Carolina House has died. State Representative Linda Johnson is being remembered for her kindness and commitment to education.
A funeral home says the Cabarrus County Republican died on Tuesday at the age of 74.
Johnson had been diagnosed with lung cancer and recently suffered a stroke, according to an online post earlier this month from Johnson's administrative assistant Rhonda Todd.
Johnson had been in the House since 2001 and was most recently one of the three senior chairs of the House Appropriations Committee. She had already said that she wouldn't seek reelection this year.
Now local GOP activists will have to choose someone to fill the remainder of her two-year term.
Johnson's funeral will be Saturday at a Kannapolis church. Gov. Roy Cooper and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis are among those lamenting Johnson's death.