William Masten Carter, Jr, 86, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 7, 2024, with family at his home in Carthage.
Known by Bill and Billy, he was born on April 26, 1937, in Carthage, North Carolina. He was the only son and oldest of three children to the late Louise Dowell Carter (née Fry) and William M. Carter, Sr. In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his younger sister, Jane Grace Hodge, and his nephews Tommy and Timmy Walker.
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Carol Carter (née Brantley); sons W.M. (Tripp) Carter, III, and Jon Matthew Carter; step-daughter Betsy Reid, her husband Marc, and grandson Jake; step-daughter Holly Curbow, her husband Dustin, and grandsons Daniel and Carter; sister Martha Johnson, her husband Prentice, and their sons, Mitch and Carter and their families; Mills Hodge, husband of Bill’s late sister Jane; brother-in-law Marvin Brantley and his family; and many other family members and friends.
Together for 27 years and happily married for 25, Carol and Bill truly loved spending time with one another, and with family. Carol and Bill had known each other as friends many years prior to being reunited in 1997. They traveled to Florida often to visit family, spent hours watching Carolina Basketball and Florida Football together, and enjoyed many years with their cherished dogs, Taffy and Rufus. Carol and Bill attended the Carthage United Methodist Church together, where Bill was a lifelong member.
Bill served in the United States Army, stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and the Army Reserves afterwards. He later served as Mayor of Carthage for thirteen years after spending five years on the town Board of Commissioners. He was a volunteer on the Carthage Fire Department for many years.
Throughout his life, his true passion was the tobacco business, working in the fields and warehouses as a boy and later working sales, or auctions, as a ticket marker. As a young man he traveled to Georgia and Kentucky with family on the tobacco market, eventually co-owning and operating a warehouse in Carthage with his father, Bill Sr., and finally going into business himself at Farmers Tobacco Warehouse. He had a deep respect for tobacco farmers and counted them as friends as well as business associates.
For much of his life, Bill greatly enjoyed fishing. He had a talent for woodworking which he practiced for many years. He was also an avid bowler and remained active into his eighties, participating in league competition with his friend and neighbor, Ronnie Gray.
Bill loved the town of Carthage and the people in it. He considered himself blessed by God to live his entire life in Carthage, and be surrounded by family, friends and neighbors he loved, respected and appreciated. Bill always saw the very best in everyone.
A graveside service for Bill will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 11 am at Cross Hill Cemetery in Carthage, North Carolina.
Memorials may be made to any of the following charities: Fisher House Foundation in service of military and veteran families, Carthage Food Pantry at 108 Bruce Street in Carthage, NC, 28327, St. Joseph’s Indian School, and the Carthage United Methodist Church at 401 McReynolds Street, Carthage, NC, 28327.
Services are entrusted to Fry & Prickett Funeral Home.
To share an online condolence please visit PinesFunerals.com.
Memorial to:
Fisher House Foundation
https://fisherhouse.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/
Carthage Food Pantry:
https://carthageumc.org/carthage-food-pantry/
St. Joseph’s Indian School:
https://give.stjo.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2840&mfc_pref=T&2840.donation=form1
