CARTER
Sergeant First Class Chester Carter, United States Army (Retired), passed away peacefully at home in Shelby, NC with his loving family by his side Friday, Aug. 13.
He was born Feb. 9, 1930, in Columbus to Jessie and Emma (Toliver) Carter, Jr.
Chester joined the Army Air Corps in February 1946. He was a military enthusiast who served his country with pride as a veteran of three wars: World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War. He retired from the United States Army in August 1975.
Chester was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and Prince Hall Masonic Lodge No. 18.
Chester was a jack-of-all-trades and could fix or build just about anything. He was an avid rancher that loved being outdoors, attending and participating in rodeos, caring for his horses, and raising cattle. During his leisure time and up until his death he avidly watched all of the old westerns, especially Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Cheyenne, High Chaparral, and The Big Valley. However, nothing was more important to him than spending time with “his boys,” grandsons Chris and Chet. He often reminisced about their summers together in the country and traveling to and from Minnesota, North Carolina, or wherever they were currently living.
Despite his stoic, no-nonsense manner, Chester was a loving, caring person especially when it came to his family. He enjoyed teasing his daughter, Gina, and was known for his detailed lectures, quick-wit, and infectious laugh.
He will be having a reunion with his parents, his wife of 59 years, Jimmie Marie Burford; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Pearlie Mae (Felton) White, Ida Lee (Elvin) Alley, and Dorothy Jean Carter.
Chester is survived by his daughter Gina (Tandy) Carter of Shelby, NC; grandsons Christopher Carter of Brooklyn, NY and Major Chester Thomas Carter of Arlington, VA; stepbrother Robert (Billie) Carter of Houston, and stepsister Jessie Mae Hopkins of Dallas; sisters and brothers-in-law Mary Burford (C. Alton) Temple, Sr. of Galveston; Robert Burford of Raleigh, NC; Larry (Brenda) Burford of Devine; Theresa Burford Adams of Houston; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A graveside service will be Saturday, Aug. 21 at 2 p.m. at Willing Workers Cemetery in Columbus. Visitation will be Friday, Aug. 20 at Henneke Funeral Home, 1515 Montezuma St. in Columbus from 5 -7 p.m.