James Coan "Jimmy" Carter Jr.

James Coan "Jimmy" Carter, Jr., age 77 of McDonough, Georgia passed away February 21, 2024. He was born December 21, 1946 in McDonough, Georgia to the late J.C. and Marjorie Blissit Carter. He was preceded in death by a sister, Janet Carter Bearden of Tennessee.

Jimmy graduated from Henry County High School in 1965 and then headed off to the University of Georgia where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in 1969 and a Masters of Science degree in 1973. He was drafted in the Army in 1970 and served until 1972 when he was called home to run the family farm. In the early 1970's he served as Executive Director of The Georgia Milk Producers. He was a true farmer at heart and enjoyed operating Southern Belle Farm as a dairy farm until the mid 1980's.

He married Kathy, his high school sweetheart and love of his life, on June 24, 1967 at Bethany Baptist Church. He was a devoted husband to Kathy and they enjoyed working on the farm together and enjoyed many Sunday dinners with family after church.

In 2005, he and his son Jake started a new chapter of Southern Belle Farm and opened the farm to the public. He enjoyed demonstrating how cows are milked to the thousands of school children who visit the farm each year.

He had a passion for serving the community and was a faithful servant in many organizations such as the Henry County Board of Education, the Ag South Farm Credit Board, the Ag First Farm Credit Board, the Farm Credit Council, the Henry County Water Authority Board and the Henry County Farm Bureau. Jimmy was also named Henry County's Citizen of the Year in 2013.

Jimmy's faith was the cornerstone of his life and he was faithful to share that faith at every opportunity. He was a lifelong member of Bethany Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher for many years.

Family was very important to him and he especially enjoyed spending time with his nine grandchildren and his great granddaughter. Nothing made him happier than spending time on the farm with them feeding the animals, fishing and riding around on the mule.

Survivors include his wife Kathy Lewis Carter; children, Holly (Wes) Cobb, Carmen (Jeff) Brannan and Jake (Jennifer) Carter; grandchildren, Mallory (Kyle) Bullard, Madison (Connor) Tarleton, Chad Cobb, Bailey (Braden) Royer, Hailey Brannan, Bo Brannan, Karson Carter, Kennedy Carter and Coan Carter; great granddaughter, Katie Bullard.

Friends may visit the family Friday, February 23, 2024 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Haisten Funeral Home, 1745 Zack Hinton Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253. A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 24, 2024 - 1:00 pm at Bethany Baptist Church, 4 N Bethany Rd, McDonough, GA 30252. Friends may also visit the family Saturday from 11:00 am until the hour of service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bethany Baptist Church Building Fund, 4 N. Bethany Rd., McDonough, Georgia 30252 in memory of Mr. Jimmy.