THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 23, 1994 TAG: 9412230463
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: KNOTTS ISLAND LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
John Lemuel Carter of Knotts Island, N.C., passed from this world to the next on Dec. 22, 1994, following a long and contented life. A civil engineer and general contractor for over 50 years, John loved hunting almost as much as he loved his family. He was born in the little community of Scott, Ga., on Oct. 18, 1913, where his family lived and farmed for many generations. At the tender age of 18, John was elected Mayor of Scott, when he promised to bring electric street lighting to the town. He kept his campaign promise, but he never ran for office again. John attended University of Georgia and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1933. He and Bernice, his wife of 60 years, shared a happy life with their daughter Lynn and grandson Mike in Virginia Beach where they moved in 1945.
John was owner and president of Carter-Bell Corporation for many years and was known and respected across Tidewater, Virginia, North Carolina and indeed much of the southeast, as he built about 2,500 Seven-Elevens for Southland Corporation in the 1960s and 1970s. In recent years he developed a number of neighborhoods, like Kemp Wood in Chesapeake, of which he was very proud.
After his wife passed, John retired and continued to enjoy hunting and fishing in all seasons. He traveled regularly in search of ``the big ones'' and usually caught them. He is sadly missed by his beloved daughter Lynn Carter Hashian and his beloved grandson John Michael Bruner and Mike's wife Lisa of Virginia Beach and sister Grace Griffin of Scott, Ga., and by his best friend and companion, Kathee Anderson Carter of Knotts Island, N.C.
In accordance with John's request, his mortal body has been cremated and his ashes will be returned to his Georgia roots at a later date. A memorial service will be held at Virginia Beach United Methodist Church Chapel on Saturday, Dec. 24, 1994, at 1 p.m. by the Rev. Frank T. Jennings of the Knotts Island United Methodist Church. It was also John's request that in lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 388, Norfolk, Va. 23501, The Hospice Program, c/o Albemarle Home Care, P.O. Box 189, Elizabeth City, N.C. 27907-0189, or the Knotts Island Methodist Church, Knotts Island, N.C. 27950.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB