John Carter, Jr.

Obituary For John Carter, Jr.

Mr. John Carter, Jr., 80, of Kingwood, Texas departed this life Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Celebration of Life services will be held Friday, October 6, 2023 at 11:00 AM in the St. Paul Baptist Church Cemetery, 44055 Highway 62, Leary, Georgia 39862.

John Carter, Jr. was born on June 13, 1943 in Terrell County (Dawson), Georgia to John Carter, Sr. and Willie Mae Thomas-Carter. His family soon moved to Leary, Georgia, and at an early age, he became a member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. He was a star basketball player for Henry T. Singleton High School, and he stayed devoted to the Quad Cities of Calhoun County (Leary, Morgan, Edison, and Arlington) throughout his life.

On August 31, 1962, John married his sweetheart, Johnnie Laster, and they were blessed with two devoted daughters, Felicia and Karen. He was a proud University of Houston (UH) Dad, sending both of his daughters to the school, and when his girls received his texts that said “Coogs are playing right now on ESPN,” they knew they should drop everything to watch. He rarely missed a game, and the family loved the chance to bond.

On June 29, 1962, John enlisted in the United States Air Force. He began his career as a Communications Specialist, which took him from Wichita Falls, Texas to Tokyo, Japan to Colorado Springs, Colorado to Johnston Island. He later completed numerous college courses and became a Procurement/Contracting specialist, with assignments that included the Pentagon; Andrews AFB, Maryland; Misawa, Japan; and Armed Forces Radio & Television Service in Hollywood, California. While stationed in Japan, he became a proud member of the O’Misawa Lodge Number 54. He was highly awarded in the military, earning a Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Longevity Award, and Air Force Good Conduct Medal, among others. John excelled in the field of procurement so much that it remained his professional path beyond his military career. John served his country honorably for, as he liked to say, “22 years, 1 month, and 2 days”, retiring as a Senior Master Sergeant on July 31, 1984. After the military, he moved his family to Kingwood, Texas, outside of Houston, where he lived for the remainder of his life. He worked for the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County for 16 years and retired as the Director of Procurement Operations. John really didn’t like sitting still, so he came out of retirement yet again to work at Houston Community College, again rising to the position of Director of Procurement. Somehow, his family was able to convince him to finally retire for good in 2011. In his third retirement, he enjoyed fishing, working in the yard, driving his Buick while playing country music, and connecting with family and friends. Nine times out of ten if you saw John, he was wearing his iconic Texan outfit – black jeans, black shirt, cowboy boots and cowboy hat. He almost never left home without the hat, and on more than one occasion strangers approached him to ask if he was a real cowboy.

John loved to joke and make people smile. He was hard-working, humble, witty, strong, sweet, and devoted, with a heart as big as Texas. On August 31, 2023, John and Johnnie celebrated their 61st anniversary. John was being cared for at that time by the team at Texas Medical Center, so they couldn’t celebrate at home. The nursing staff said they’d never seen such a devoted couple, and they brought balloons and personalized treats into the hospital to celebrate. He truly charmed everyone who met him.

John went to rest on September 26, 2023, leaving many to celebrate his joyful life and legacy: His cherished wife of 61 years, Johnnie Laster-Carter; daughters, Felicia (Greg) Allen, and Karen Carter (Ryan Simmons); sisters Daisy Washington, Mary (Glenn) Norton, and Peggy Carter; brothers David (Belinda) Carter, Jerry Carter and Terry Carter, as well as countless cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Carter, Sr. and Willie Mae Thomas-Carter; brother, Moses Carter; and two sisters, Eddie Mae Favors and Willie Ruth Carter. In June 2023, John led the effort to have his lifelong friend, Bobby Porter, laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, a point of great pride for him. He deeply cherished his friends and family. They don’t make ‘em like J.C. anymore; he was one-of-a-kind, and we will celebrate and honor his amazing life forever.

Meadows Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.