The family of Roma Fay Johnson Carper would like to encourage friends and family to honor her memory and her life by donating to BookSpring in support of its enduring mission to ensure all children have access to books. 

Roma passed away at age 92 on January 24, 2026. She was a member of the original RIF Steering Committee in the early 70s and coordinator of RIF in 1977, where she wore many hats, including training and coordinating volunteers, ordering and distributing books in schools throughout Austin, and working tirelessly with others to get books into the hands of children. 

Roma has always put her love of reading and devotion to literacy paramount. She was an avid reader all of her life, keeping detailed lists of books she had read, and she participated for many years in her church book group. One of her favorite activities was taking her grandchildren to the bookstore to pick out a book or two (or more) when they came to visit. 

Roma earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Southwestern University, and later in life organized programs for senior citizens, which always included visiting authors and book talks. Roma would be so proud to see that her love of reading and commitment to enhancing children’s lives through books continue on in her memory.

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Donations in her memory may be made online through the following link: Donate

Or be mailed with a note “In memory of the life of Roma Fay Johnson Carper” to:

BookSpring
PO Box 153024
Austin, TX 78715-3024

Call BookSpring at (512) 472-1791 x 101 if you have any questions.