Josie Mae Carter

  Mother Josie Mae Carter was born on December 24, 1926 to the parentage of James and Vinnella Randolph Thomas in Toomsboro, Georgia.  The Lord decided to call her birth parents home when she was very young. She was thirteen when her mother died, and fourteen when her father died. She was reared, loved, and nurtured by her maternal grandmother,  Mattie Hicks Randolph, who became a strong figure in her life; she raised her in a Christian home. 

  Later, her entire maternal family moved to Doctortown, Georgia (Wayne County) in order to seek employment at McCann's Veneer Mill.

 She attended early primary and elementary school at Marcus Chapel Baptist Church next door to her home and later transferred to Wayne Industrial School in Jesup, Ga, where she studied diligently to earn good grades.

  She remembered becoming the only junior high student chosen to participate in the high school dramatics club and she also became a top competitor in her math classes.

  In 1947, at the age of twenty, she married Nathaniel Carter after a one-year courtship. Through this union six children were born with two daughters surviving.

  Her husband was a good provider and preferred that she didn't work outside of their home.

  As a strong disciplinarian she spent much time  nurturing and loving her children and at times became over-protective of them to ensure their safety and guidance.

  She ensured that her daughters learned to pray at an early age. They recited Psalm 23, 100, and 121 every night before going to bed. They attended Sunday School and church services every Sunday and vacation bible school every summer.                  

  She taught them to be chaste housekeepers and made sure that their chores were listed on the refrigerator every day after school.

  In 1961, she was employed at Walker Elementary and High School, Ludowici, Georgia  as a long-term  substitute teacher, paraprofessional , and the school 's temporary secretary. The Principal and Superintendent of schools were both convinced that she would make an excellent teacher and encouraged her to attend college away from home. Unfortunately, she chose her family instead of a college education.  She chaperoned many out-of-town basketball games and also served as cub scout leader and den mother.

  In her community she worked diligently in her church as a choir member, Eastern Star member and Orator; delivering many messages from church to church.  She assigned and assisted many children as they learned their Easter and Mother's Day  recitations.

  She taught her children to sing and they traveled from county to county performing duets.

  On weekends she lodged and fed many children  whose parents dropped them off and forgot to pick them up. Many stranded  strangers on highways 99 (now 57), 301,  and 82 ( now 84) were often brought to her home by the police department while her husband assisted them in fixing their vehicles. Most of them were very   appreciative and later exchanged Christmas cards and even visited them again.

  In 1968, she attended nursing classes and worked as a nurse's aide at Wayne Memorial Hospital and later became a LPN. She assisted  Dr. Fraser and  Dr. Robbins in the Obstetrics Ward at Liberty Memorial.

  In 1970, she diligently studied to pass the Civil Service test and became a shoe  salesperson at the PX, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

 In June 1970, she became a born again Christian and joined the First Born Church of the Living God where she led most of her family members to Christ.  She diligently studied the Bible day and night and became a good bible teacher, earned her missionary license, and became  a traveling evangelist. Her favorite song was  

"Never Grow Old",  Her favorite  scripture was:  2Timothy  4: 7-8: 
7. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

  She mentored, taught, and encouraged many young women and men in the Lord. Many called her "Mother Carter", "Mother", or "Mom". She lived a Godly life and displayed good examples, values, and morals in her home. She became a new creation and old things had passed away. She exemplified good character  and a different lifestyle which included a change of friends, music, and even her demeanor. 

  She was highly respected and  honored as a prayerful woman, counselor, teacher,  and a great leader; but most of all, she was compassionate and a dear friend to everyone she came in contact with.  She enjoyed a very special relationship with the youth as well as adults of all ages . Her many fine qualities and her greatest strength lied in her strong faith in the Lord and her ability to walk in the hospitals and pray for the dying; that raised to life again.

   In the 1990's she became a member of Full Gospel Tabernacle under the pastoral of Bishop Larry D. Shaw, where she served as one of the church mothers.  She loved and enjoyed working beside the other mothers  and young women of the church. She recalled sitting in the midst of First Lady Shaw and enjoying the presence of the Lord at her home.  She often spoke of Mother Harris,  Mother Buckner, Mother Wooten, Mother Duncan, Mother Martin, Mother Moore and Sister Bowen, whom she called her daughters.

  Despite her declining health conditions over the years, she longed to be in the midst of her church family and whenever she could no longer attend, she would send her tithes and offerings.

    Mother Carter was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, two brothers, an only sister, her  husband of seventy-four years,  new born twin boys, a new born son, a three-year old son, aunts, uncles, special cousins, a special niece and nephew.

  She leaves to fondly cherish her memories two daughters: Valerie C. Turek, Veronica C. McCullough, a son-in-law whom she calls "Son", Wilbert E. McCullough. Four grand-children and their spouses and a step-granddaughter.  They are as follows: Quansa E. and Shennel McCullough of Pooler, GA., Quixote' L. and Shanette McCullough of Hinesville, GA., Quavante V. and Terica McCullough of Pooler, GA., LaMiracleand Johnathan Patton of Dallas, GA., a step grand-daughter Nickki McCullough of Pascagoula, Miss., 11 great-grandchildren, three step great-grandchildren,  a special cousin Mother Willie Mae Randolph of Jesup, GA., a special niece Sister Coretha W. Outley of Ontario, CA., a special son Brother Joseph L. Rogers of Brunswick, GA., a special grand-nephew Donnell R. Floyd of Victorville, CA., many other nieces, nephews and cousins (whom she considered very special as well), four god children; Ned Wheeler, Leon King, Isaiah Wynn, Sister Queenie Wooten and long time friends Mr. and Mrs. Ulysses Brockington.  Mother Carter will be dearly missed.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, June 11, 2022  1:00 p. m. at Full Gospel Tabernacle Church of God In Christ with Bishop Larry D. Shaw officiating.

Visitation: A public viewing will be 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p. m. The family will view the body 12:00-12:50 p.m.

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