Thomas Lee Carter

Mr. Thomas Lee Carter, affectionately known by many as “Tommy”, age 85, of Walterboro, entered into eternal rest Tuesday afternoon, February 23, 2016, at the Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro.

Funeral services will be conducted 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon, February 28, 2016, from North Walterboro Baptist Church, 2177 Jefferies Highway, Walterboro.  The Reverend Godfrey Ritter and The Reverend Dr. Zane Brown officiating.  Interment with Masonic Rites will follow in Glendale Memorial Cemetery, 2210 Mount Carmel Road, Walterboro.

Born May 6, 1930, in Ruffin, South Carolina, he was a son of the late Dewey Monroe Carter and the late Ola Drawdy Carter.  He served our country faithfully in the United States Army prior to serving in the National Guard reserves.   Mr. Carter was known for his strong work ethic; having worked his entire life before his final retirement in 2013.  He retired from the Savannah River Site in Aiken, was a retired agent from Liberty Life Insurance Company, and lastly he retired from the Colleton County Sherriff’s Office as the Officer of the Day.  He truly loved his work at the Sherriff’s department because his love for others allowed him the constant interaction with folks that he tremendously enjoyed.

He was a longtime member of North Walterboro Baptist Church.  At his church, he was a member of the Adult Sunday School Class and was active in many aspects of the church’s work.  He was a longtime Board Member of the Colleton County Saddle Club where he has served as the organization’s President for several years.  He was a forty year member of Unity Masonic Lodge, No. 55 – Ancient Free Masons in Walterboro and was a member of the Omar Shrine.  He was also a member of the National Rifle Association.    Tommy dearly loved his family, always providing the best he could and centering his daily life around the needs of his wife and family.  He loved fishing, shrimping, and being in his yard; however, his greatest pastime in life was riding his John Deere Tractor.

Surviving are: his greatest devotion and the love and light of his life for sixty-one years, Mrs. Icey Jones Carter; two children, Debbie Carter Stillion and her husband Douglas of Walterboro and Inga Carter Smoak of Round O; and two sisters, Marie Hiers of Ruffin and Faye Riley of North Augusta.  There are four grandchildren, Christy Thompson and her husband Randall of Walterboro, Angie Cummings of Walterboro, Keeley Chapman and her husband Bo of Walterboro, and Thomas Craven of Walterboro; four great grandchildren, Cole Cummings, Michael Chapman, Priscilla Chapman, and “Lil” Randall Thompson; and seven step-grandchildren, Paul, Jayme, Angie, Lisa, Michelle, Reggie, and Holdan.  He was preceded in death by a son, Anthony Blaine “Tony” Carter in 1996; a son-in-law, Reggie Smoak, Sr.; and a brother, Mondell Carter.

Family and friends are invited to call during a time of visitation which will be held Saturday evening from 7 o’clock until 9 o’clock at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORY, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro; 843.538.5408.  Visit our online registry at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.