Jimmy Cleveland Carter Sr.

Jimmy was one of three children born to the Reverend Dennis and Lucille Lairsey Carter of Waycross. He was a graduate of Ware County High School, class of 1961. “Little Jimmy”, as he was known by his teammates and coaches, excelled in football and track. He spent his senior year serving in the National Guard Reserves and enlisted in the US Air Force after graduation. After his service to our country, Jimmy attended Brunswick Junior College, now Coastal Community College and Armstrong State University.

Jimmy came from a long line of law enforcement officers and dreamt of becoming an officer himself. He tried out and qualified with several departments including the Georgia State Patrol and Jacksonville Sheriff’s office but did not meet the height/weight requirements. Finally, in 1965, “Little Jimmy” was hired as a Police Officer with the City of Brunswick Police Department. Jimmy loved working for the department and worked his way through the ranks. He served as a patrol officer and a motorcycle cop for many years. While working with the police department, Jimmy portrayed Santa Clause for many years in the 1970’s by parachuting onto the lot of JM Fields Department Store, much to the delight of many children and adults. In 1983, Jimmy was promoted to Brunswick Chief of Police, a position he proudly held until 1990.

Nineteen ninety was a big year for Jimmy. He was appointed by President, George H. W. Bush, and confirmed by the senate, as the US Marshal to serve the Southern District of Georgia. He held this position until 1994 when the democrats formally took over. He then went to work as the Chief of Police in Alma, Georgia until 1998. In 1998, he was hired by Southeast Georgia Health Systems to help them form a certified police department within the hospital. Once the department was in place and running smoothly, he left to work as a personal security guard for Judge Anthony Alaimo, retiring once again in 2004.

Jimmy was a people person who was always on the go. He sincerely loved helping others and, in 2014, returned to the city he loved to act as the Interim Chief of the Brunswick Police Department. After the new Chief was in place, he went down to St. Mary’s as their Interim Chief of Police.

While living in Brunswick, Jimmy was a member of the First Baptist Church of Brunswick, the Exchange Club and the Kiwanis Club. After moving to Waycross, he joined Sweat Memorial Baptist Church, the Waycross Exchange Club and was Chairman of the Ware County Republican Party. He was also a member of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Georgia Republican Party.

Jimmy loved his family very much. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, who affectionately called him “Dang Dang”. Jimmy was also a thrill seeker. He had his private airplane pilot’s license and was an avid skydiver, logging over 500 jumps. When on the ground, Jimmy enjoyed woodworking and cabinet making. He was admitted into the Ware County Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

Jimmy was a humble man who served the community with honor and humility. The departments to which he served were built on fairness and stability, traits he learned from his personal heroes, his father, Reverend Dennis Carter, and his mentor, James Lairsey. The communities he served and his brothers in blue will miss Jimmy.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Diane Carter and two granddaughters, Tara Denise Liles and Haley Middleton.

Jimmy is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary Johnson Carter of Waycross; three daughters, Felicia Carter Liles (Timmy) of Brunswick, Tina Day Martin (Tim) of St. Simons Island and Sherrie Day Middleton of Waycross; a son, Jimmy Cleveland Carter, Jr (Perla) of Brownsville, TX; a sister, Kaye Carter Boyett (Charles) of Waycross; eight grandchildren who will miss their “Dang Dang” very much; Taylor Liles, Anna Martin, Tori Liles Cason, Devan Carter, Lizzie Martin, Chase Middleton, Dalton Carter, and Bailey Carter Two great grandchildren, Tara Kate Cason and Timothy Liles.

Visitation will be held Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home in Brunswick.

The funeral service will be Friday at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church of Brunswick. Active pallbearers will be Larry Bruce, George Carter, Kevin Jones, Jim Jordan, Neal Jump, Buford Rowe, Chris Stewart, and Sam Strickland.

Honorary pallbearers TC Cowan, David Seawell, Gene Douglas, all past and present Brunswick Police Department, Glynn County Police Department, Glynn County Sheriff Department, St. Marys Police Department, Waycross Police Department, Ware County Sheriff Department, the United States Marshals Service, US Federal Court, Bacon County Sheriff Department, Camden County Sheriff Department and Alma Police Department.

The graveside service will be Friday at 2:30 at Hephzibah Cemetery, 6060 Hephzibah Church Road, Waycross.

"Small in stature, but a giant in Life"