Dr. Jimmy M. Carter

Jimmy Maxwell Carter passed away on April 12 2023 in Opelika, Alabama.

He was born in Ruffin, South Carolina to Heyward and Lena (nee Hutto) Carter. He graduated from Bells High School in 1960, where he excelled in football, baseball, basketball and the classroom. He went on to earn a B.S. in agronomy from Clemson University, graduating in 1964. He earned a Masters in plant physiology from the University of Illinois before joining the United States Army in 1966. He served as a Military Intelligence Officer with the 101st Airborne, including one tour in Vietnam. After returning to the United States, he served at Fort Jackson until 1970, when he entered medical school at Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University. He graduated in 1974, completed his internship and served as a flight surgeon at Fort Rucker in Alabama from 1975 to 1978. From 1978 to 1981, he completed an ophthalmology residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Returning to Fort Rucker, he served as a staff ophthalmologist from 1981 to 1985. Leaving active duty, Dr. Carter completed a fellowship in corneal and external eye disease at Louisiana State University Medical School in New Orleans. He returned to the Wiregrass area of Alabama, settling in Dothan to practice ophthalmology. In 1991, LTC Carter was activated from the US Army Reserves and deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm. Shortly after returning from war, Dr. Carter retired honorably from military service. He continued to serve patients in Southeast Alabama for another 25 plus years. He embarked on several medical mission trips, including two in Honduras where he taught local ophthalmologists how to perform life changing corneal transplants, giving sight to the once blind.

Jim was an avid pilot, sailor, diver and hunter. While in his professional life he was methodical, analytic and serious, outside of the office, he was daring, adventurous and bold. He would sail into the teeth of a storm, fly into postage stamp size airports at night and drive too fast no matter where he was going or when he needed to be there. Jim loved people. He was typically the life of the party, willing to dance or sing at the drop of a hat. He was happiest with loved ones around, a drink in his hand (Tanqueray on the rocks, with olives) and female companionship. He lived life to the fullest and encouraged everyone else to do the same.

Jim is survived by his four children Matt (Nicole) Carter, Jason (Lisa) Carter, Madison (Seth) Imhof and Meredith (Randall) Casto and nine grandchildren Jackson, Whitman and Finnegan Carter, Emma and Delaney Carter, Carter Syler and Elijah, Bethel, and Mia Casto.  He was preceded in death by his sister, Donna Carter Fender and her husband James.

Jim leaves behind a legacy of laughter, breathlessness and service. Countless patients have had their sight restored directly or indirectly by Dr Carter. Those who loved him will miss his impish smile, contagious laugh and love of life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Jim’s name to either the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinios 60601; or to, The Wounded Warrior Project, Post Office Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675.

The Relatives and Friends of Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Jimmy Maxwell Carter are invited to attend his funeral services which will be conducted at 4 o’clock Sunday afternoon, April 16, 2023, at 4 o’clock from The Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Chapel, Walterboro.   Interment will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Hendersonville Highway, Walterboro.

The family will receive friends prior to the funeral ceremony beginning at 3 o’clock at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORY, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro. Visit the guestbook online at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.