Larry D. Carter

Mr. Larry D. Carter, 81, of Chapin, South Carolina passed away on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. He was born on April 29, 1943, the son of the late Buddy J. Carter and Inez Willingham Carter of Cedartown, Georgia.

Mr. Carter is survived by his three children, Kelly Snelling and her husband, Roland Snelling of Greenwood, SC, Chris Carter and his wife, Heather Young Carter of Irmo, SC, and Dean Carter of St Petersburg, FL. Mr. Carter also leaves eight grandchildren and their families. He is also survived by a brother, Phil Carter and wife, Judy of Carrollton, GA; a sister, Glenda McInnis and husband, Ken of Williamston, SC.

Larry grew up in Cedartown, Georgia surrounded by many cousins, uncles, and aunts since his mother and father were part of large farm families in Polk County, Georgia. After graduating from Cedartown High School in 1961, Mr. Carter attended West Georgia College earning degrees in Biology and Chemistry. Later, he would obtain a B.A. degree in Religion from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC.

After college, he worked 40 years as a Chemist, Lab Manager, and Quality Control Manager for well-known companies in the southeast including Parke-Davis, Warner-Lambert, Geigy Chemical Corporation, and Barnhardt Manufacturing Company.

Always believing one should give back to the community, Mr. Carter gave generously of his time to various organizations including the Seratoma Club (Greenwood, SC), YMCA Football Coach (Greenwood, SC), Scout Master Troop 401 (Greenwood, SC), Exchange Club (Cedartown, GA), Art League (Cedartown, GA), and the Polk County Historical Society (Cedartown, GA).

While volunteering for the Polk County Historical Society in Cedartown, Georgia for nearly a decade, he collected enough information about Polk County to write a history of the county. He had a keen interest in the county because his ancestors first settled there in the 1830’s. His book, titled Polk County, Georgia – The First 100 Years, was published in 2012. The book is the most detailed book written regarding the history of the county and is available for purchase at the historical society in Cedartown.

Previously, in 2003, he published a historical novel titled, The Ball Game for Georgia, about the legendary Indian ball game between the Cherokee Indian Tribes who occupied large portions of Georgia prior to settlement by whites. The game is believed to have been played approximately two hundred years ago and was a contest in which the winner won valuable North Georgia lands.

Mr. Carter lived with his wife in retirement at The Heritage at Lowman. In keeping with Mr. Carter’s wishes, he will be buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Cedartown.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, September 15, 2024 at The Lowman Home Chapel, 2101 Dutch Fork Road, Chapin, SC 29036.