Lillie B. Carter

Dateline: Bristol, Va.-
Lillie B. Carter, age 91, of Bristol, Va., departed to her heavenly home on Sunday, March 20, 2016, at the Wellmont Hospice House in Bristol, Tenn. Lillie graduated from King Mountain High School at the age of 16 in 1941. In the 1970s she furthered her education by taking classes at Highlands Community College. She was also a talented athlete, playing pitcher for the Glade Spring softball team. In the late 1950s and early 1960s Lillie was one of four Bible Teachers at the Glade Spring Colored School and served as the community Vacation Bible School Director for three years. She sang with the Christ Glad Zion Group throughout Southwest Virginia. She was an active member of the Missionary Society. Lillie served as the secretary of the Schaffer Memorial Convention from the age of 19 to the age of 84. The 2016 summer conference will be the first time the Schaffer Memorial Convention will convene without Lillie since the mid-1930s. Though she was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Glade Spring, Va., Lillie worked with Fairview Baptist Church, Mt. Calvary Community Church, Plum Creek Baptist Church, and Ebenezer United Methodist Church. Her various occupations included Youth Recreation Director at the Glade Spring Community Center, and she served as both the Director and Nutritionist at the Glade Spring Senior Center. She also worked at Glade Spring Middle School as an office and library assistant. Additionally, she was a sales representative for Avon. Lillies hobbies included reading, working crossword puzzles with a pen, growing flowers, cooking, and studying the Bible. Lillie wanted this day to be a day to lift up Jesus.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jim Foster, Sr. and Mary Cato Foster; husband, Joe Carter; brothers, James Foster Jr., Charles Foster, Ben Foster, and Roger Foster; sisters, Anna Smith, Mary Montgomery, Rachel Johnson, and Frances Foster; and a great grandson, Malik Howard.

She is survived by her daughters, Carolyn Howard and husband Merl Howard Sr., Gaynelle Heath and husband Thomas Heath, Phyllis Carter, Marilyn Anderson and husband Harry Anderson Jr., and Evelyn Carter; brothers, Glen Foster and Don Foster; sisters, Marie Lampkins and Edith Butler; grandchildren, Shawn Carter Sr., Melanie Harris, Harry Anderson III, Anthea Carter, Justin Carter, and Scotty Howard; 17 great grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service. A service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 24th at Lee Street Baptist Church, 1 West Mary Street, Bristol, Va. 24201, with Dr. W.A. Johnson officiating. A committal service will follow at Foster Cemetery in Glade Spring, Va. where Tony Smith, Steve Foster, Rawdon Smith, Glen Foster Jr., Nathaniel Fields Jr., Ambrose Smith, David Montgomery, Stacy Cressel, Stephen Fields, and C.J. Lee will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Curtis Duke Montgomery, Bill Bunche, Warren Lindsey, Joe Bowers, Doug Hill, Michael Lampkins, Prince Coleman, and Nathaniel Fields Sr.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Wellmont Hospice House, 280 Steeles Road, Bristol, Tenn. 37620.

Those wishing to share memories and express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com.

The family Lillie B. Carter is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service and Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, Va. 24210 (276-623-2700).