On Saturday, February 28, 2026, our beloved father, grandfather and friend, Elder Golden Carter, 91, of Stoney Mountain Rd., Martinsville peacefully transitioned from this life at his residence.

He was born on January 29, 1935, in Pulaski, VA the twelfth of fourteen children born to his father, John Henry Carter, and the seventh of nine children born to his father, John Henry and mother, Amelia Davis Carter.

The last of his generation, Elder Carter was preceded in death by his parents, and all his siblings, brothers, Jack Carter, James Carter, John Henry Carter, Robert Carter, Sr., James “Lil Bit” Carter, William Carter, Eddie Carter, Gabriel Carter and Gerald Carter; sisters, Alice Carter, Willie Anderson Anthony, Bertha Davidson and Rosa Lee Carter.

Married the love of his life and his partner in the gospel, the late Rev. Della Choate Carter on December 20, 1958. They were married 40 years at her passing.

To this union were born four children, Sharri Lafaune, Joseph Jerome, Andrea Lynne and Cedric Channing.

In 1954, he received the gift of Jesus Christ as the Lord of His life and was baptized in the Holy Ghost. He accepted God's call to ministry in 1956, and for more than 55 years, he served as a pastor of several churches in Christiansburg, VA, Whitethorne, VA, Berwind, WV, Keystone, WV, Axton, VA, Gretna, VA and Stuart, VA.

Having preached Christ in local jails and prisons since his call to ministry, he volunteered with Good News Jail & Prison Ministry in 1986, and in April 1987, he became an Assistant Chaplain in Martinsville-Henry County.

In August 2004, he was promoted to Chaplain for the Martinsville-Henry County jurisdiction where he continued to serve at Henry County Jail, Martinsville City Jail, Martinsville City Jail Annex (City Farm), and Patrick Henry Corrections Unit (Camp 28). He retired from the prison ministry in 2013, from pastoring in 2019, but continued singing and preaching until his health failed in the Fall of 2025.

Elder Carter has travelled nationally and internationally singing and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his daughter, Sharri Carter, and all his siblings.

Elder Carter leaves to cherish his memory and honor his legacy, his daughter, Minister Andrea L. Carter, two sons, Rev. Joseph Carter (Cynthia) and Minister Cedric Carter (Donna); three granddaughters, Sharri “LaFaune” Carter, Seona LaMirr Carter (Keedeam Dodson), and Chelsea Nicole Carter Wall (Tyrone); eight great-grandchildren: Jaida Carter, Darion Duncan, Cameron Fuller, Blessing Carter, Jah-Ni Paines, Aiden Bradley, Kaliyah Bradley and Legacy Dodson; one great-great granddaughter, Harmony Belton; one godson, Reverend Dr. C Lee Hagwood; one “adopted” daughter, Dinah Clements; three sisters-in-love, Louise Carter of Jersey City, NJ, and Barbara Carter of Fernandina Beach, FL, and Elder Lois Choate Stewart of Euclid, OH; special friends, Shirley Jeffress Davis, Conny Bryson, and James Thomas Martin; a host of bonus grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.

He fulfilled his greatest desire to live a life that pleased the Lord, and the words of his favorite song “if I can help somebody, then my living will not be in vain.”

A visitation service will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. with the funeral service at 12 noon at Refuge Temple Ministries, 205 Clearview Dr., Martinsville with Reverend Joseph Carter and Minister Cedric Carter, Eulogist. Interment will follow at Roselawn Burial Park.

A public viewing will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at Hairston Funeral Home, 301 Fayette St., Martinsville between the hours of 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Other times, the family will receive friends at the residence, 956 Stoney Mountain Rd., Martinsville beginning on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. daily. Live streaming of the funeral service will be available at Hairston Funeral Home Live via Facebook.

Courteous, efficient and dependable services provided by Hairston Funeral Home.