“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” II Timothy 4:7
Reverend Elmer R. Carter, 88, of Elizabethton, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, March 7, 2016, from the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center Hospital. Reverend Carter was the son of Elmer Gaylord Carter and Maude Overbay Carter Stout. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Elmer Richard Carter Jr., and a sister, Betty Barlow.
Reverend Carter was born in Bristol, Tenn., but had lived most of his life in Carter County. He was a United States Navy veteran, having served in World War II. He was a retired minister and had served over 50 years in various Free Will Baptist churches. He was a member of East Side Free Will Baptist Church and a member of Appalachian Association of Free Will Baptists, which he helped organize. He had also served as chairman of the board of Free Will Baptist Family Ministries. He had a passion for lost souls and loved his family and his church families.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 70 years, Ruby McKinney Carter, of the home; a daughter, Deanna Thompson and husband Tim, Colorado Springs, Colo.; two sons, Bill Carter and wife Ann, of Elizabethton, and Rev. David Carter and wife Sherry, of Spartanburg, S.C.; eight grandchildren, Dr. Becki Carter James, Teresa Carter Seay, Chad W. Carter, Travis Carter, Joy Carter Chavis, Erin Thompson Hughes, Lauren Thompson Ball and Ethan Thompson; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A service to honor the life of Reverend Elmer R. Carter will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 10, in the Riverside Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with his son, Rev. David Carter, officiating and Rev. Justin Deaton assisting. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 12:30 until 2 p.m. Thursday, prior to the service, or at the residence at anytime. The graveside service will follow at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Chad Carter, Ethan Thompson, Travis Carter, Jeremy Hughes, John David Ball and Stephen James. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Holsclaw, Ernie Holsclaw and all his fellow ministers. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Governors Bend Assisted Living in Erwin and to the staff at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center Hospital for the love and care shown to Reverend Carter during his illness. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers, may make donations to Free Will Baptist Family Ministries, 90 Stanley Lane, Greeneville, TN 37743, in Reverend Carter’s honor. Online condolences may be shared with the family at our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Carter family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.