Donald Morris Carter

Donald Morris Carter, age 88, passed away on Monday, May 2, 2011at his residence. Born December 5, 1922 in Salisbury, son of the late William Alvin Carter and Mary Lena Rothrock Carter, he was a graduate of New Bern High School and of the Cincinnati College of Embalming, Class of 1947. During WWII he served in the U.S. Army with the Parachute School at Fort Benning, Georgia and with the Airborne Command at Camp McCall, N.C. Mr. Carter served with the 11th Airborn Division in the Philippine Islands and Japan. His last service was with Division Headquarter in Sendi, Japan. After the war he served three years in the U.S. Army Reserves. He was a member of the 11th Airborne Division Association. In 2009 he was a participant on the John Hanford Flight of Honor to the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC. Mr. Carter first became associated with Summersett Funeral Home in 1941 as an apprentice. He later worked for 8 years at Townsend Funeral Home in Murphy, NC. Mr. Carter was co-owner of Murray-Carter Funeral Home in Greensboro before returning to Salisbury and his wife’s family business of Summersett Funeral Home. He served as President of the Board of Directors from 1988 until his health declined recently. He was a funeral director and embalmer, serving the Salisbury community with compassion and care. With several generations of family following in his footsteps at Summersett Funeral Home, his dedication and stories of his many years of work will be deeply missed. Mr. Carter was a member of First United Methodist Church and served on the Church Administrative Board several terms and as a church usher for many years. He was a member of the Hudson Miller Tatum Post # 3006 of the VFW and served as Adjutant and Quartermaster of the post during the time they bought their first Post Home on Brenner Avenue. Mr. Carter was also a member of the Harold B. Jarrett Post # 342 of the American Legion. For over 60 years he was a member of Fulton Masonic Lodge #99. A member of the Salisbury Rotary Club, he served on the Board of Directors. Mr. Carter served two terms as President of the Murphy Rotary Club. He was a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary and was proud of his many years of perfect attendance before his health declined. Mr. Carter was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the North Carolina State Funeral Directors Association, and Select Independent Funeral Homes. He served as District Director in Districts Number Eight and Twelve of the Association. Mr. Carter was a member of the Catawba Chiefs Club. He also supported Catawba College through a First Family Scholarship established in his and his wife, Margaret’s name. Mr. Carter was a former member of the Community Development Council for Western North Carolina. A former Jaycee, he served as Chairman of Safety Services for the American Red Cross. He worked with the United Way Fund for several years. He served on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, and on the Salisbury Rowan Planning Board for ten years, serving as Chairman for several years. Mr. Carter was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Margaret Summersett Carter, July 8, 2007. He is survived by two sons, Donald Morris Carter, Jr. and wife Cathy of Liberty, NC and William Summersett Carter and wife Debbie of Salisbury; four grandchildren, Kristen Carter Barber and her husband Dennis, Staton Summersett Carter and his wife Carrie, Mary Elizabeth Carter and David Scott Carter; two great grandchildren, Corbin Paige Barber and Evan Scott Barber; and sister-in-law, Elizabeth Summersett of Salisbury, NC. The family will receive friends at Summersett Funeral Home from 6-8:00 PM Thursday (May 5). The funeral service will be at First United Methodist Church, 11:00 AM Friday (May 6), conducted by the Rev. Steve Haines and Rev. Julie O’Neal. Burial will follow in City Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 2l7 N. Church St., Salisbury, N.C. 28144 or the Donald M. Carter and Margaret S. Carter Scholarship Fund, Catawba College, 2300 W. Innes Street, Salisbury, N.C. 28144. The family would like to thank the staff of the Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks and Mr. Carter’s home caregivers for their compassion and care for him in recent weeks. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Carter family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Donald Morris Carter

December 5, 1922 - May 2, 2011