The first African American and first woman to represent the city of Indianapolis in Congress - Republican Julia May Carson- passed away on Saturday at the age of 69.

She was battling lung cancer and was diagnosed last month as having reached the terminal phase of the disease. Carson had announced it and added that she would not run next year to represent Indianapolis for the seventh term. She served in the Indiana General Assembly and was the Center Township Trustee.

She was taken to the Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and put under medical care in September for a leg infection. That was her last time at the White House, according to spokeswoman Vanessa Summer.

Carson was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer on November 25, 2007, when the Indianapolis Star reported the bad news. The cancer at her lungs was discovered by her doctors as they were treating her for her leg infection. Carson had battled the cancer before, but it had gone into remission. In a statement, Carson said she was ready to return to Washington before "the second shoe fell - heavily."

The Louisville, Kentucky native grew up in the city of Indianapolis, and worked in various positions to support her family. She graduated from Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis, and then at Martin University in Indianapolis and at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Se was hired by congressman Andy Jacobs in 1965 and in 1972, when his own electoral prospects looked diffuse he encouraged Carson to run for the state House, which she did, and was duly elected to the state legislature of Indiana in 1972, serving as a member for 4 years. In 1976, she successfully ran for the state senate.

Several years later, in 1990, Carson was elected as a Trustee for Center Township and had the responsibility to run welfare in central Indianapolis. She served six years as a trustee for the city's Center Township, creating a $6-million surplus from the office's $20-million debt

"Not only took cheats off the welfare rolls, she sued them to get the money," former Rep. Andy Jacobs said about Carson.

Jacobs retired in 1996 and Carson chose to run as his replacement and won. In the general election she faced Virginia Blankenbaker. Each raised a similar sum of money, but Carson won 53%-45% that November.