Remembering J.W. Carter Sr.

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — On September 14, 2026, J. W. Carter, Sr. met Jesus face to face at the age of 92.

Carter was in a league all his own. He never met a stranger. He took up a lot of space in every room he ever walked into. He lived out loud. You didn’t have to guess what he was thinking. He picked and teased a lot! More than anything, he LOVED out loud.

He loved God, his church, his friends, and mostly, his family. He loved the Ole Miss Rebels and the St. Louis Cardinals. He loved quail hunting and went until he was no longer able. He introduced his sons and grandchildren to hunting and they have stories and memories he shared with them. He loved playing golf and trips with his friends from his church. He followed his grandchildren and their sports and activities, attending every time he could.

He loved gardening, keeping his grass beautiful, homemade ice cream, peanut brittle, pralines and tomato sandwiches. He thought he made the best brisket in town. He loved oil painting and music and John Wayne movies. He loved traveling, having been to all 50 states as well as Canada, many countries in Europe, Mexico, and the Bahamas.

He was born January 6, 1934, to Joe and Dora Carter in Gillsburg, Miss. He was the second child and older son, all raised on their dairy farm there. He still owns acreage at his home place today. At 16, he graduated as the “funniest” in his class and attended Southwest Jr. College. From there, he transferred to Mississippi College, where he met Betty Jo McAlum. They married at 19 and started their family with the birth of son, Jay. Then came Kim and Wayne.

After college, he and Betty moved to Vicksburg, where he worked for Westinghouse until he retired. They were married for 47 years, until her untimely death due to cancer. He was the best nurse taking her to every treatment and doctor appointment. As luck would have it, he met Yvonne Wall at a fish fry. They were married 18 months later. The family thanks her for the 20+ years they were married and the wonderful home she made for him in Vicksburg, Ridgeland and in Flowood.

Preceding him in death, his wife, Betty McAlum Carter, his parents, Joe and Dora Carter, his brother, Vernon Lee Carter, his sister and brother-in-law, Hudson and Audrey Louque, brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Sue McAlum, and his stepdaughter, Karen W. Lefkovitz.

He is survived by his wife, Yvonne Wall Carter, children J. W. Carter, Jr., Kimberly Carter, Wayne Carter (Sharon) and stepson, Lee Wall (Marila). Grandchildren Brandi Carter Nester (Todd), Katie Carter, Kasee Glaze (Trey), Jacob Carter (Dana), Hunter Wall, Avery Wall and Lyndsey Lee (Mike), Megan Moss (Justin), Nelson Allen (Haley). Great-grandchildren Tyler Hale, Baylee Dorian, Annie Nester, Mason, Bowen, and Jackson Winans, Lorelei and Julianne Glaze, Julia Lee, Maci, Mika, and Mattie Moss, and Archer Allen and his sister-in-law Emmagene Carter. He is also survived by many beloved nieces and their families.

If there was anything he would want you to know about him, it was that he was a Christian. He would want you to be a Christian too. He was named Senior Life Deacon at First Baptist. He made sure the family was at church every time the doors were opened. The family thanks him for the wonderful Christian home and values he instilled in all of them. Their foundation is firm and for that reason, they know they will see him again.

And remembering Carter’s life, by the great Mississippi writer, Willie Morris: “My boy,” Morris said, “there is no place you can go that your father will not be.”

Visitation will be at Glenwood Funeral Home on Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 5 p.m until 7 p.m. and from 10 a.m. until the hour of the service at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church Chapel. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Todd Nester, Tyler Hale, Jacob Carter, Mason Winans, Jackson Winans, Trey Glaze, Andy Dorian and Hunter Wall.