Lemuel C. Carter

CHAPIN - The Reverend Doctor Lemuel Corydon “Brother” Carter, 73, spouse of Mary Harriet Wiggins Carter for 50 years, died Sunday, December, 18, 2011 at home.

Born in Estill, S.C. on October 19, 1938, Dr. Carter grew up in Bunnell and Daytona Beach, FL and Manning, SC where he graduated from high school in 1956. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wofford College, 1960; Master of Divinity degree from Emory University, Candler School of Theology, 1966; a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, 1990 and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Wofford College, 1997.

Dr. Carter served as a Second Lieutenant and First Lieutenant in the United States Army Adjutant General Corps from 1961- 1963. As a Personnel Psychologist he and his staff worked with medical personnel to determine the fitness of recruits for military service. He completed his tour of duty serving with the 3rd Army Reserves Corps in Atlanta, GA while beginning his theological studies at Emory University. In 1964 he began a career of service as a Deacon and Elder in the United Methodist church which spanned 39 years. His service included 24 years as a local church pastor from 1964 - 1988; Marion District Superintendent from 1988 - 1991 and 1995 - 2003; and as the Director of the Conference Council on Ministries from 1991 - 1995.

United Methodist opportunities for service included the following: Trustee, Wesley Commons Home 1986 - 1994; Trustee, Columbia College 1991 - 2003; Trustee, Belin Board of Trust 1988 - 2003; delegate to Jurisdictional and General Conferences sharing in leadership beyond South Carolina; and, the World Methodist Conference from 1996 - 2001. Through the church he was able to be a strong advocate for the status and role of women; single parent concerns; ethnic local church inclusivity; and raising the quality of life for all persons. Dr. Carter was especially happy to have played a major role in bringing together in excess of 10,000 persons for the Vision 2000 Evangelistic Launch Event at the Carolina Coliseum in 1994. This is recorded as being among the largest gatherings of United Methodists in South Carolina. The documentation for this event honors Bishop Joseph B. and Shirley Cundiff Bethea in the Bethea Welcome Center at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina among other places.

In 1986 Dr. Carter was named a Rotarian Citizen of the year for his community service. In 1988 he was the recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, the highest honor given by the Governor of South Carolina to a citizen exemplifying outstanding service to the state and to her people. He enjoyed traveling with Mary Harriet throughout Europe and the US. Dr. Carter was happy whether in London or his favorite, Flagler Beach, FL as long as he was on the road with her. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on November 25, 2011.

Family members who predeceased Dr. Carter include his mother, Doris Coffey Carter and his father, Lemuel Corydon Carter; maternal grandparents, Thomas Finley and Blanche Wells Coffey; paternal grandparents, Dr. Lemuel Allen and Emma Sullivan Carter.

Dr Carter is survived by his loving wife of Chapin; three daughters, Mary Susan Carter Fischer and her husband, Joey of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Alice Holler Carter White and her husband, Larry and Leila Harriet Carter all of Chapin, SC; a sister, Cean Carter Norris and her husband, Luther of Columbia; five grandchildren, Lauren, Kathryn and Matthew Fischer of Mt. Pleasant, Carter and McCaleb White of Chapin SC and several nieces and nephews.

Appreciation is expressed to Bishops Roy C. Clark, Joseph B. Bethea and J. Lawrence McCleskey for their support and encouragement during three major illnesses. As well, the support of family and friends has been unending. A special thanksgiving is offered for the medical care given by Doctors Gwendolyn C. Galphin, Columbia; Kenneth Mincey, Paul De Marco and Keith Stewart, Marion; David J. Cole, Laurie Rumpp and the medical teams at Hollings Cancer Center and MUSC, Charleston; Fred J. Kudrick and the medical team at South Carolina Oncology Associates, Columbia. During the last seven plus years of fighting pancreatic carcinoma these physicians and their teams committed themselves throughout diagnosis, surgery (Whipple Procedure, 2004 by Dr. Cole), treatment and aftercare. Their level of caring along with their ability to network among themselves on Dr. Carter’s behalf provided him with a greater quality of life for a longer period of time than is generally seen with this disease.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at Chapin United Methodist Church, Old Lexington Highway with the Reverend Joseph Duane Flowers, the Reverend John Emory Holler and the Reverend Ellwood Holler Wiggins participating in the service. Honorary pallbearers will be special co-workers and their family members; ministers and spouses. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will be immediately following the service at 2:00 p.m. in the Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Palmetto Health Hospice, P.O. Box 352 Newberry, SC 29108 or South Carolina Oncology Associates, SCOA Cares Foundation, P.O. Box 2046, Columbia, SC 29171.