Joseph A. Carter

Pastor Joseph A. Carter was born November 13, 1942, to the late Sandy
Carter, Sr., and Agnes Brown Carter. Pastor Carter was the third child of eight
siblings. He transitioned from this life at home on August 2, 2023.
Pastor Carter accepted Christ at a young age and was baptized at Locust Grove
M. B. Church. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Pastor Cater
was educated in Vicksburg, MS. Growing up, he and his siblings would play
baseball and basketball. Joseph would excel in sports as would his brothers
and sisters. Joseph would go on to star in both baseball and basketball playing
in semi-professional leagues. A typical Sunday evening would find the entire
Carter family at the baseball field. He experienced a long working career with
Anderson Tully for over 40 years. Pastor Carter was previously married to
Johnnie Carter Peaches with whom he had two beautiful children, the late
Wanda Faye Carter Butler and Joseph A. Carter. After this marriage dissolved,
he remarried Inez Smothers Carter and had another son, Dominique Smothers,
and gained bonus children from this marriage.
Pastor Carter would later join the international ministry at New Hope “The
Vision Center” M. B. Church in Natchez, MS, where he served as an Associate
Pastor under the wonderful leadership of Dr. Bishop Stanley B. Searcy, Sr., and
co-pastor, Brenda Searcy.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 28 years, Inez Smothers Carter;
beautiful daughters, Wanda Carter and LaKiesha Smothers; brothers, Willie
Carter, Sandy Carter, Julius Carter, and Arthur Carter; and sister, Bobbie Jean
Carter Smith.
He leaves to cherish his wonderful memory: his sons, Joseph A. Carter,
Dominique Smothers, Robert Smothers, Jr., and Calvin Smothers; adopted son,
Steven Carter; daughter, LaTonya (Tommie) Bell; one aunt, Hazel Erwin; one
brother, Charles (Mary) Carter; three sisters, Agnes Carter, Julia Carter, and
Betty Morgan; grandchildren, Jerrica Carter, Dorian Carter, Amber Carter,
Romeo Carter, Jasmine Freeman, Danielle Smothers, Daniel Smothers, Darius
Smothers, Shanna Wallace, and Arianna Smothers; seven great-grandchildren
along with a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and other extended relatives from
the families of the Carters, Prentiss, Brown, Erwin, Banks, Johnson, Smothers,
Green, Williams, Henderson, Jones, Devote, Hudson, Taylor, Gibson, Bradley,
and Harris